Frustration is mounting for motorists who are rushing to meet the end of August grace period deadline to renew their licences.
Due to the lockdown challenges, drivers with expired licences were given a lifeline.
The grace period applied to licenses that expired before December 31, 2020.
It was granted after many bottlenecks caused by the COVID-19 lockdown and applied to vehicle licence discs, temporary permits, roadworthy certificates, and driver’s licences.
Long queues are a huge frustration for drivers.
“Those who are applying for their learners licenses expressed mixed reaction. While some say it was easy to make bookings. Others are unhappy with the admin involved,” says the Head of Communications at the Road Traffic Management Corporation, Simon Zwane.
Driving schools are also feeling the pressure. Most driving schools expressed frustration with the limited online bookings available for them. They say this is compromising their businesses.
Efforts are under way to assist those who have struggled to renew their expired licences.
Licensing centres in all big provinces like Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal have extended working hours to operate over weekends in order to accommodate the large volumes of drivers who want to meet the grace period deadline by end of August.
Clarity on vehicle licence renewals and grace periods:
