GEORGE NEWS - Driving licencing and vehicle testing centres will be closed for the duration of the Covid-19 lockdown period (midnight 26 March to midnight 16 April). This was confirmed to George Municipality by the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works. 

The municipality awaits confirmation regarding arrangements for vehicle licensing centres, but expects these too to be closed.

Please note: driver's licence tests and learner driver's licence tests that would have taken place during the lockdown period will be postponed to the first available testing opportunities after the lockdown. The new dates will be communicated via SMS to the relevant applicants during the first week after the lockdown, and are expected to be slotted in on weekends to address the backlog.

Western Cape Director of Transport Administration and Licensing Directorate (TAL), Michael Gallant, said in a letter to municipalities on Tuesday 24 March that services rendered by the TAL to the public, its municipal agents and private vehicle testing stations will be suspended during the lockdown period.

TAL will also suspend services such as exemption permits for film shoots, events on provincial roads and abnormal load vehicles.

The TAL indicated that it hopes to address backlogs by speeding up online services.

It has also requested the National Minister of Transport to consider granting extensions in the cases below:

• The validity period of a learner's licence.

• The validity period of a driver's licence card.

• The period to exchange a foreign driver's licence to an RSA licence.

• The period to convert an ID book driver's licence to a CCF licence under the circumstances still allowed by legislation.

• The validity and grace periods pertaining to a temporary permit, roadworthy certificate, motor trade number renewal and to register and license a motor vehicle (including annual renewal).

Feedback on this will be communicated when the George Municipality has received confirmation:

TAL also awaits feedback from the national minister regarding a request for waiving of penalties for late vehicle registration and licensing and annual renewal, as well as to acknowledge Covid-19 as a reason to defer a learner’s or driving license test (whether the applicant was infected or self-isolated). 

Feedback on this will be communicated when the George Municipality has received confirmation.

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