In line with the changes to improve services at the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Driving License Testing Centres, eye tests from accredited optometrists will now be accepted at these facilities in Korsten and Kariega (Uitenhage).
In addition, deliberations with a major bank is at an advanced stage to introduce secure card payments as well.
John Best, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Safety and Security, said these developments would undoubtedly play a major role in making transactions more seamless at the Driving License Testing Centres.
“When we introduced the online booking system, in collaboration with the Road Traffic Management Corporation at the beginning of the month, we took a major leap towards modernising the way services are provided at these facilities.
“Gauteng was the first to introduce this system. We are not only the second region; we are also the only municipality in the Eastern Cape to do so.
“It is also important to understand why we had prevailing issues after the introduction of the system. We allowed for a hybrid system for this month to complete transactions that were booked telephonically prior to going live. This meant that we were already booked until the end of March.
“In addition, consumers who made online bookings from 1 March, were required to physically go to the Driving License Testing Centre within three days, to confirm those bookings, adding to the number of people with business to conclude at the centres,” Best said.
The continuous monitoring and evaluation of service delivery at these facilities is now part of the standard protocols of the Safety and Security department.
Warren Prins, Director of Traffic and Licensing, said deliberations with the Road Traffic Management Corporation are ongoing to resolve concerns flagged by both consumers and the municipality on a continuous basis.
“Despite the hiccups, we noted a clear improvement in service delivery. From 1 to 15 March we completed 2 772 transactions, which represents 80% of the monthly transactions on the old system.
“This means we are assisting more consumers with the new system.
“In addition to allowing eye tests from accredited optometrists and the introduction of card payments, only online bookings will be accepted from April.
“In those cases where prospective consumers do not have access to the internet, terminals will be available at both the Kariega and Korsten DLTCs.
“We also upskilled four additional cashiers to perform transactions on the Natis system and are working towards obtaining accreditation for the Motherwell DLTC from the Road Traffic Management Corporation,” Prins said.
To make an online booking go to online.natis.gov.za.
- For more information or to resolve difficulties e-mail onlinesupport@rtmc.co.za or dial 0861 400 800.
