The
Department of Roads and Transport has partnered with the Road Traffic
Management Corporation (RTMC) and municipalities to adopt a strategy to deal
with the driving licenses and permits backlog experienced due to the lockdown
period.
In
July 2020, the Minister of Transport published Regulations (Government Gazette:
43539 (vol. 661), which provided that “all learner’s licenses, driving license
cards, temporary driving licenses and professional driving permits that expire
during the period that commenced from 26 March 2020 up to and including 31
August 2020 are deemed to be valid and their validity period is extended for a
further grace period ending on 31 January 2021”.
In
a bid to improve and enhance assistance to driving licence holders following publication
of the gazette, the Department, RTMC and municipalities resolved to:
➢ Enhance the NaTIS
system to allow applicants whose driving licenses are expiring or have expired
to be given priority in the booking system. Access to slots will be unlocked
through an applicant’s ID number;
➢ Set aside every Tuesday
from 26 October 2020 until 31 January 2021 to assist applicants whose
licenses are expiring or whose validity has been extended to 31 January 2021;
➢ Wednesdays have
been set aside and dedicated to assist any applicant who is 60 years or older
to renew their Driving License or Apply for a Professional Driving Permit
(PrDP) only. Applicants are not required to make prior bookings.
Attention
is also drawn to other applicants regarding the availability of bookings
(online and walk-in’s):
Mondays: Centres will avail
slots for renewal of Driving License Cards and PrDP Applications. These will be
available to applicants whose driving license cards have not yet expired.
Centres will avail slots for renewal services based on available resource and
operational plans.
Tuesdays: Centres will avail
slots for Driving License and Learner’s License test applications. Upon
application, to secure an appointment, successful applicants should confirm
their bookings. Bookings must be confirmed by making a payment any day from
Wednesday to Friday. Failure to do this will result in the cancellation of the
secured booking.
Wednesdays: Wednesdays are
declared “Pensioner’s Walk-In Day”. Centres will prioritize pensioners with
their driving licence card renewals. Pensioners are not required to make prior
bookings. Other services will continue as normal.
Thursdays: Centres with capacity
to renew driving licence cards and process PrDP applications, will avail slots
for Priority renewal of Driving Licence Cards and PrDP Applications. Such slots
will be available only to applicants whose driving licence cards have expired.
To
improve the process and enhance the experience, applicants are encouraged to
bring their signed and stamped optometrist or ophthalmologist tests to centres.
In
addition, health protocols on COVID-19 will be strictly adhered to ensure
licensing centres (DLTC’s) do not contribute to the spread of the virus. (Social distancing and wearing of masks are compulsory #NoMaskNoEntry