Following concerns and allegations of bribery at Umbilo Driver’s Licence and Testing Centre (DLTC), Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) announced that motorists can now access some of the services online via the NaTIS online platform.
RTMC said with over 2.4 million motorists renewing their licence discs annually, this innovative service will enable them to save time by avoiding long queues, fines, penalties for late renewal and help to mitigate the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation is already witnessing an increase in online activity with more than 6 700 motorists having used the NaTIS online crash reporting platform since its introduction in 2019.
Last week Friday, a motorist who chose not to be named, alleged that he had to go home without being assisted as the security officer at the gate was allegedly taking bribes from people who did not want to wait in the queues. Umbilo Sector 3 Community Policing Forum chairperson, Ben Madokwe, who lives across from the Umbilo DLTC, said he can attest to the long queues outside the centre, however, as the Sector 3 chairperson he has not received any complaints from the community about bribery.
“I do understand that there are long queues and this is a result of the backlog caused by lockdown and the spread of Covid-19. I think the best way to access the services is to make use of the online services, rather than going to stand in the long lines and end up going home without being assisted. This will also help lessen the risk of contracting Covid-19 whilst standing in the lines because in most cases people do not adhere to social distancing,” said Madokwe. He said any bribery should be reported to the department heads and to the centre’s management.
Motorists will be required to log in on the NaTIS platform, select ‘View Motor Renewals’, choose the licence disc/car, capture the card details of the respective bank and pay. Once payment has been made, motorists will have a choice to have the car licence disc couriered to their address of choice or get it printed at the nearest Driver’s Licence Testing Centre (DLTC).
FNB Public Sector CEO, Sipho Silinda, said: “We are delighted to partner with the Road Traffic Management Corporation to make this service possible. Covid-19 has accelerated growth in the digital and eCommerce sectors, with more consumers preferring to shop and access essential services online. By adding a digital payment option for motorists, RTMC aims to reduce cash-handling risks for all persons involved, including that of South Africans. This will assist in reducing operational costs and pass these savings to South Africans, through the introduction of more innovative services to motorists while maintaining the levels of service expected of them.” The Road Traffic Management Corporation encourages motorists to use the online facility on the NaTIS platform to verify and update their addresses to ensure that the licence discs are delivered to the correct residential address. For more information on online services offered on the NaTIS platform, motorists can visit online.natis.gov.za.
