Minister Fikile Mbalula is set it hold a media briefing on 1 April where he will give an update on the deadline he previously set for 31 March. Many Bloemfontein motorists on Wednesday expressed their dissatisfaction with regards to the lack of assistance at the Lengau Testing and Traffic Centre. Just as the cut-off day was approaching, the officials at the traffic centre were turning motorists away as early as 10:00 with the reasoning that there is already too many people inside the premises.

The spokesperson for the provincial department of Police, Roads and Transport, Hillary Mophete, told OFM News the centre still has to follow the one-metre distance regulation, and as a result they cannot take full capacity. “When it is full, those inside will have to be assisted first,” she stated.  

Also read: Bloemfontein motorists frustrated with deadline

Mophete further stated people are not turned away, however, they may queue longer outside the premises. 

Her statement comes despite one of the motorists who was turned away, Pieter du Plessis, expressing his frustration about how he has been at the centre a couple of times to renew his driving licence, however, he never gets assisted. “The back-and-forth also interrupts my schedule, as I constantly have to come here to get told I cannot be assisted,” he stated.

What frustrates another motorist, Thapelo Morake, about his expired driving licence, is how he now has to try to take another off day from work, as he was also turned away and told to come in the early hours of the morning.

Mbalula has previously given motorists, whose driving licenses expired between 26 March 2020 and 31 August 2021 until today, 31 March, to renew them. This includes learner's licences, driving licence cards, temporary driving licences and professional driving permits.

OFM News