Licence renewal 'a rip-off'

2003-05-23 14:14

Cape Town - Former Cape Town mayor and Western Cape premier Peter Marais criticised the provincial government on Friday for charging motorists exorbitant fees for the renewal of drivers' licences.

In the Western Cape motorists must pay an administrative fee of R100, plus R40 for a temporary licence, and R20 for two passport photographs when renewing a licence.

"Any motorist caught without a CCF (credit card format) licence or temporary licence after April 30 this year can be fined up to R500," said Marais, who has formed his own party, the New Labour Party.

Addressing a media briefing in Cape Town, he said provincial authorities insisted that motorists take out the temporary licences, even though it was not stipulated in legislation.

The politician said that, in theory, the renewal of a person's driver's licence should be as easy as the annual renewal of a vehicle licence, given the advancement of technology.

He believed not enough thought had gone into the legislation and the guidelines issued by the national road traffic authorities with regard to licences.

The national department of transport did not have the capacity to deal with renewals and it was forcing motorists to pay for its inefficiency.

"The confidence of the public in the road traffic management authorities is being eroded and the New Labour Party demands an immediate stop to this rip-off," Marais said.

- SAPA