New online drivers licence pre-booking system already raising questions

NIGEL – Getting your driver’s licence in Ekurhuleni is said to have been made easier and more convenient through an online pre-booking service, which eNATIS in partnership with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), claim will help reduce long queues and shorten the time customers spend at licence stations.

The new online driver’s licence pre-booking system should allow applicants to choose the date, time and place of their tests. The City of Ekurhuleni has therefore announced that as from November 1, walk-in customers will no longer be assisted when it comes to drivers’ licences and that future applications will have to be made online.

This applies to booking a learner’s licence test, driver’s licence test, renewing a driver’s licence card and renewing or applying for a professional driving permit (PrDP).
Whereas the intention of reducing long queues and shorten waiting time may have been a noble idea, there seems to exist a few technical glitches that applicants should take note of.

HERAUT reader Angelo Malo from Nigel said she encountered a problem when making an online application early in November. Much to her surprise, the booking was not made for a heavy motor vehicle learner’s licence as per her application, but for a Code 8 licence and when she dialed the customer care service number to enquire, she was abruptly cut off.

“I did not find the online booking system to be successful at all. Data for internet usage also costs a lot of money. They do not mention the fact that proof of residence is required, which you have to take with on the day of your actual booking. An online booking is also only confirmed once you pay the amount due at the local traffic department. What is the use of an online booking system then if you cannot pay and confirm online?” she asked.

RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said the system was still in its roll out stage in November and that human error may sometimes contribute to technical glitches. He advised applicants to visit the ‘frequently asked questions’ section on the NaTIS website for enquiries.

“We will also offer an online payment system in the near future, but currently it does not allow for it. Applicants will therefore have to pay for their bookings at the testing station where the pre-booking was made,” he said.

In addition to this, the transport department recently announced that motorists may experience a significantly slower turn-around time for the issuing of driver’s licences, due to an ongoing strike involving employees at the driver’s licensing card account department.

Department spokesperson Jandré Bakker said the ongoing industrial action has affected the issuing centres nationwide, but he added that drivers who apply for a driver’s licence card renewal prior to the expiry date, can use their application receipts and their cards for a maximum of three months. Motorists are advised to check the status of their application at the centre where they initially applied.

Alternatively, they can check their driver’s licence card status by sending their ID number via SMS to 33214.

While Ekurhuleni residents are urged to book their applications online at online.natis.gov.za, walk-in customers from Nigel who require the following services will still be accommodated at Nigel Licensing Department in Kerk Street: vehicle registrations; vehicle licence renewals; duplicate registration documents; scrapping of registered vehicles; and change of vehicle ownership.

They are open between 08:00 and 15:00 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and from 09:00 to 15:00 on Wednesdays.

For more information, phone 011 999 9225.

Follow us on:
Facebook      Twitter