IN November last year, motorists were told they needed a proof of residence when they renew or apply for their motor vehicle and driver’s licences. The Department of Transport at the time said they were required to verify all personal particulars and addresses with any motor vehicle or licencing departments.
Some residents expressed outrage about not being properly informed about new regulations involved in renewing car licence discs, which has meant some having to make two or even three trips to municipal offices. Among the regulations, motorists have to provide proof of residence when renewing their discs. A number of applicants in some of the city’s traffic departments and municipal offices felt the city should have done more to tell people what documentation to bring with them.
However, another change that has irked a number of residents, particularly those in the Glen Anil and Glenhills, is the re-registration process for people with NUR number plates.
The Northglen News was recently contacted by a local resident, who did not want to be named, who said she was told she not only had to renew her license but re-register her vehicle, which had NUR number plates.
“I’ve lived in the same area for the last 15 years and I haven’t moved house, why do I now have to change? I have three vehicles which have now fallen into this bracket and what annoys me is that I had stood in a queue for hours only to be told that the uMhlanga licensing office could not help me. I was told I needed to go to the Durban office to re-register my cars.
“I’ve also realised that two of the vehicle discs had already expired and with the penalties I have incurred, I now owe R2 500. I, like most residents, rely on licence renewal reminders and they are not sent out any more. The inconsistencies are also infuriating; some of my neighbours had no problem, but my sister had the same issue. You’ve got to take time off work, sit in long queues, and only once you get to the counter are you told of the change. This débacle has also meant I now have to update my details with my insurance company and Tracker.”
uMhlanga ward councillor, Heinz de Boer, said he too had received several complaints regarding the new rules and is still awaiting clarity on the changes.
“As far as I understand it, residents in Glenhills and Glen Anil had a choice of registering their cars as either NUR or ND. There’s a lack of information from the department regarding any clarity on the matter and I’ve requested maps to see if the demarcations have changed.
“I understand the frustrations of the residents and I would like to see the department’s thinking behind the re-registration process. Whatever the reason behind these changes, I urge vehicle owners to check their licence discs regularly. In my mind, the two areas are closer to uMhlanga than they are to Durban,” he said.
