Motorists and aspirant drivers have been left high and dry after operations at the Wilsonia traffic department were suspended.
The suspension comes after an inspection found the department’s testing yard did not meet the criteria needed for driving tests, leading to the cancellation of all test bookings.
A staff member, who asked not to be named, said employees were still reporting for duty even though services had ground to a halt.
“It is not only the yard that isn’t operational, it’s basically the whole station, because people cannot renew their licences. All bookings have also been halted.
“We come in, in the hope of receiving feedback and being told the way forward.”
A visit to the site revealed that the road where driving tests usually begin had barely visible road markings, making it difficult to distinguish lanes.
The department has not yet announced when operations would resume, though Eastern Cape transport department spokesperson Unathi Binqose said it could be as early as Monday.
He confirmed the inspection was conducted on September 18 and the facility was given 30 days to attend to the issues raised.
“It’s only the testing site,” he said, dismissing suggestions the entire department had been affected.
Binqose said the national department of transport was inspecting facilities, currently focusing on the Eastern Cape, and should any incidents be flagged, they would be attended to.
“The road surface has to be in a good condition ... as well as the lines for parking need to be visible.”
The suspension has raised concerns among motorists and learner drivers, but Binqose stressed the closure was both temporary and necessary.
“It’s mainly because the three-point turn test in the yard needs to be re-marked, and the test route for learners into the town also needs to be painted.
“We are trying to speed up the process and have it reopened as early as Monday.”
On whether previous test candidates may have been disadvantaged by the state of the facility, Binqose said: “Certainly not. It’s routine maintenance.”
Jeff Gamba, owner of Jeff’s Driving School, said: “This suspension is affecting us because that is how we accumulate income.”
He said when Wilsonia was closed, this created pressure on the two other traffic departments, East London and Gonubie.
“Even worse, the suspension of this provincial traffic department was not communicated, resulting in many people being compromised, whether they wanted to do licence renewals, driving tests or learner’s licence applications.”
The closure would financially affect many driving schools, not just his, Gamba said.
Daily Dispatch
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