Yesterday marked the launch of the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport’s new ‘Smart’ Drivers Licence Testing Centre (DLTC), this time at the Gautrain Midrand station. Yes, you read that right, in Midrand. Here, you’ll be able to perform all the same bookings as any regular DLTC. Except these ones are ‘smart’. Which (hopefully) means they’re quicker and more accurate than standard DLTCs.
The Department of Roads and Transport has partnered with the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) which will eventually see a DLTC at every station across the province. There are three Gautrain DLTCs currently operating; the Midrand station, Centurion station and at the GMA offices.
Gautraining for faster licence issuing
These Gautrain centres use a ‘smart enrolment’ system that the Department has been trialling for over a year. The point? To assist with capturing details while you’re booking an appointment online. It’s able to integrate with Home Affairs directly and makes sure that fingerprints, photos and all the rest are captured in real-time. The trial was a success, and will eventually make its way to the rest of Gauteng, followed by a national release.
If you visit a Gautrain DLTC, you’ll be able to book for licence card renewals, temporary driver’s licence applications or pay your numerous traffic fines. These centres are also open for longer than the standard centres, open from 08h00 to 18h00 on weekdays and 09h00 to 14h00 on Saturdays. Sundays are the centre’s off days.
Using the system
- Visit the National administration Traffic Information System (NaTIS) website.
- Click the service that best suits you, and choose a timeslot.
- You can download your booking details after confirmation
- Arrive at your location at the time of your choosing – make sure to bring your ID and a copy. Bring up to four black and white face photos (this may change depending on what you’re there for). If you’d like to speed things up further, you have the choice to bring an optometrist’s certificate with you.
- Depending on the reason you’re there, you’ll be given a set of forms to complete. Make sure to bring a black pen with you.
- You’ll be told where you’re needed (based on your reason for visiting) and asked to pay the fee afterwards.
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After you’re done, you can track the process of your new card[s] on the NaTIS website. This is pretty important, considering that you won’t be automatically notified that your card is ready for collection. If a card isn’t collected in 90 days or less, it will be destroyed. Why? Nobody knows. Perhaps the government felt that it did its job too well here, and didn’t feel a need to include a notification system. Maybe in the next few years, if we’re lucky.
Source: BusinessTech
