Gauteng's MEC for Roads and Transport, Bheki Nkosi, has expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the decentralised approach for license booking in Gauteng; this after a week following the decision to cancel the call centre approach.
On the first day of implementation, 4 October 2010, MEC Nkosi made unannounced visits to the Laanglagte, Xavier, Wadeville and Krugersdorp testing stations. The purpose was to get first hand impressions on the ability and capacity of centres to handle the expected volumes.
Despite minor challenges on the first day, MEC Nkosi got a feeling of relief and excitement from his interaction with people on the queues. Most people hailed the intervention and endorsed the new approach by the department.
Within two days of the walk-in system, there were 11 178 bookings made for both the learners and driver's tests and all these were confirmed with test dates for all applications.
MEC Nkosi also made a repeat of his unannounced stops at the stations on Thursday, 7 October 2010 to observe and monitor progress on the walk-in system. He visited Laanglagte, Randburg, Alrode, Wadeville and Watloo centres.
MEC Nkosi said that "as much as long queues were evident at most centres, with some people arriving as early 06:00, the centres were coping well with the challenges as the week progressed".
By the end of business day on Thursday, a total of 24 292 confirmed test bookings have been made around all Gauteng licensing centres. 13 539 of these are for driver's test, whilst 10 753 is for learners' test.
The huge demand for driver's test bookings were for Code 10 driver's license. Laanglagte, the biggest and busiest in the province, has the highest numbers with 1 046 confirmed bookings for drivers' test.
Krugersdorp and Nigel have the least numbers for driver's test with 98 and 37 respectively.
There are still challenges related to people being turned away due to the number of forms being issued per day. This matter is being attended to after the MEC has made recommendations to the departmental monitoring team on queue management and increasing capacity of centres.
The walk-in booking system is an intervention plan that will be in place until the impact assessment on the call centre is concluded and findings have been studied. The department will make a determination on the future of the contact centre approach after studying the findings of the impact assessment.
At this rate, the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport is positive that the walk-in booking system will enable it to manage the licensing booking backlog in the province. The support and patience of the people of Gauteng is crucial to the success of these special measures.
For more information, contact:
Philemon Motshwaedi
Tel: 011 355 7466
Cell: 083 648 6870
E-mail: Philemon.motshwaedi@gauteng.gov.za
MEC Nkosi gives thumbs-up to decentralised booking system
Province
