Non-compliance to the National Traffic Act has compelled the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison to take over the operations at the KwaMhlanga Licensing Station with effect from today, 31 January 2012.
This implies that during the intervention period, the administrators, chief licensing officer, examiners and security at the station will be replaced by departmental officials who will run the station until the Thembisile Municipality demonstrates that it is ready to deploy full-time staff members to operate the station in an efficient manner that will improve service delivery.
Indications of non-compliance were uncovered after the head of the department (HOD); Mr Thulani Sibuyi sent a departmental team of inspectors to conduct a preliminary investigation pertaining to the running of the station. The HOD’s action was triggered after the municipal manager at the municipality approached the department in a bid to ensure that the station was operating optimally.
The team, among others found that the learner licensing bookings were reserved for preferred candidates, while others were not afforded opportunities to secure bookings for driver’s licences and the interference of driving school owners in the booking system at the station.
It was also found that staff members at the centre were reluctant to utilise the computerised licensing system assisting officials to issue licences in a fair manner and eliminating possibilities of corruption.
“We request the Nkangala community to cooperate with the temporarily deployed officials in order to improve the status quo at the station. The department will ensure that disruptions are minimised during the take-over period and we plea with stakeholders to regard the intervention as a means of enhancing service delivery in our licensing centres,” said Sibuyi.
The station was mandated to register and license motor vehicles and drivers.
Enquiries:
Joseph Mabuza
Tel: 013 766 4055
Cell: 082 678 1450
