The party says most Traffic Department centres in the province not only suffer from inadequate equipment and logistical supplies but also from a shortage of staff, amongst other issues. 

The party’s provincial leader Roy Jankielsohn, says they have received several complaints about how residents across the province battle to access services at most licensing and testing centres. He, in a statement, confirms the party has now written to the provincial Police, Road, and Transport MEC, Sam Mashinini, requesting him to take action to redress the situation.

Jankielsohn says extending operating hours at testing centres during the week, as well as over weekends, will greatly help with the much-needed services. He says this will also assist the department in terms of the backlog experienced.

“The DA has requested that an audit be carried out immediately at offices in all towns to determine what is preventing them from delivering all the services required, and what measures need to be implemented to mitigate the identified problems causing backlogs and poor services,“ said Jankielsohn.

The party’s appeal to Mashinini comes just months after OFM News reported on how six Bloemfontein traffic officials were arrested by the Hawks for fraud and corruption. The arrests, which made national headlines, included several admin clerks, a police officer and driving school administrators who were said to have operated a syndicate from the Lengau Traffic and Testing Centre in Bloemfontein.

Jankielsohn says in a case where there is a need to shut down a testing centre for Covid-19 decontamination, it should be done as soon as possible and services should resume immediately afterwards.

Whilst the department is yet to confirm the plea made by the party and its plan of action, Jankielsohn says the DA will continue to do oversight over these services and hold the Provincial Government accountable in the Free State Legislature.

OFM News