THE KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport has reported that 13 Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs) across the province have been affected by Covid-19 outbreaks and have been temporarily shut down until further notice.
According to reports, all affected buildings are being deep-cleaned and thoroughly disinfected as part of infection prevention and control.
The department as well as the affected municipalities will update the public once operations resume at each branch.
As a precautionary measure, all services have been suspended with immediate effect and infected staff members have since gone into self-isolation and will follow all the necessary Covid-19 protocols.
Health workers have also been alerted and necessary precautionary measures have been put in place for the rest of the staff members for assessment and screening to ensure a safe environment for all.
Out of the 13 DLTCs that have been temporarily closed, nine are run by various local municipalities while four are run by the Provincial Department of Transport.
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The 13 centres that have been affected are Pinetown, Eshowe, Vryheid, Howick, Mooi River, Underberg -KwaSani, Hlabisa, Richmond, Utrecht, Nongoma, Newcastle, Rossburgh and Mkondeni RTI.
Once given the green light to resume operations by the respective Occupational Health and Safety teams, all other services rendered by the affected DLTCs will re-open and members of the public will be advised.
Those whose learner and driving licence tests have been impacted by the closures will be contacted to arrange alternative test dates at no additional cost.
The public and car dealerships are urged to use other DLTCs and Registering Authorities that have not been affected.
This is in addition to more than 39 post offices and municipalities operating as registering authorities.
The public is also urged not to panic as there is the 90-days grace window period approved by the Minister of Transport for the renewal of licences that have expired.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
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