"Practical Solutions": Gauteng Pilots New Driver’s Licence System at 2 Testing Centres
- The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport is piloting an improved booking and payment system at Edenvale and Marlboro DLTCs
- MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela met driving school stakeholders to tackle booking irregularities, system downtime and compliance concerns
- The department plans to form a technical committee to create a permanent platform between government and driving school operators
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Getting a driver's licence in Gauteng has long been a source of frustration. Now the provincial government is taking steps to change that.
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport is piloting an improved booking and payment system at the Edenvale and Marlboro Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs). The pilot forms part of a broader effort to make licensing services more accessible and to stamp out irregularities that have long plagued the system.
MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela met with driving school stakeholders at Koedoespoort on Wednesday. Rand West City MMC Bruce Nimmerhoudt and Sedibeng District Municipality MMC Ntjanyana Phala also attended. The meeting tackled long-standing issues including limited online booking slots, frequent system downtime, inadequate training facilities and alleged booking fraud.
Gauteng plans permanent industry forum
Beyond the pilot, the department is proposing a dedicated technical committee to give government and driving school operators a structured space to work through problems together. Diale-Tlabela said:
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"We cannot continue meeting without making meaningful progress. We need a structured forum where government and the driving school industry can address challenges openly, agree on responsibilities and work together towards a professional, transparent and accountable licensing environment."
The MEC linked the quality of driver training directly to road safety, warning that corruption and fraud in the licensing system put lives on the road at risk. She urged driving school owners to meet registration requirements and ensure their facilities are properly equipped, raising particular concern about informal roadside training operations that may lack basic amenities.
The department's database lists more than 454 driving schools across Gauteng. The National Road Traffic Amendment Act, 2024 (Act 8 of 2024), strengthens the regulatory framework by providing for the registration and grading of driving schools.
Supporting legitimate driving schools
The department is also exploring a dedicated business account for registered driving schools, designed to support compliant operators while protecting fair public access to licensing services.
Diale-Tlabela said the government sees legitimate driving schools as partners in both road safety and youth employment, with driver training and licensing offering practical pathways into the job market.
"Driving schools are important partners in road safety, skills development and community development. We want to support legitimate businesses, but this must go hand in hand with compliance, ethical conduct and accountability. Our shared responsibility is to ensure that learners receive proper training and become competent, responsible drivers."
She said the proposed forum would move the conversation from repeated complaints to concrete action.
"Our objective is to move from frustration to cooperation and from recurring challenges to practical solutions. By working together, we can strengthen the industry, create opportunities for our communities and make Gauteng's roads safer."
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Source: Briefly News
