Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula says the Drivers Licence Card Machine has been fixed and is in operation. In a tweet, he added that staff are working day and night to ensure the backlog in the issuing of drivers licences has been cleared.
Earlier this month it was reported that the machine was taken to Germany for repairs and that the country only had one driver’s licence printer to ensure corruption was prevented.
Previously, Mbalula indicated that the machine would be repaired by the end of March 2022. The Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA) is responsible for the production of the card licences. The machine reportedly broke down in November 2021, and it was estimated that more than half a million South Africans were then forced to get a temporary drivers licence.
Good morning SA, yesterday I visited the Staff at the DLCA and spent the afternoon with them.
The Licensing Card Machine has been fixed and is in operation. The Staff is pulling Day and Night shift to ensure your License are made and delivered. https://t.co/k2xuXNMkM1 pic.twitter.com/x3XjYpkx6O
— FIKILE MBALULA | MR FIX (@MbalulaFikile) January 26, 2022
The penalty for driving with an expired licence was waived since the machine broke down and it was explained that there is only one machine in the country to prevent corruption and licence fraud
At the same Mbalula said that there are plans to replace the one machine with several others that have upgraded security features that will prevent fraudulent duplications of drivers licences.
The Western Cape has recorded a 55.6% percent increase in road accident deaths this past festive season.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula released the 2021 Festive Season Road Statistics yesterday and says the province, over the 2021 holiday season, recorded 207 road deaths.
This is an increase from the 133 deaths reported in the 2020 festive season.
The Minister says drunken-driving and speeding played a significant role in this increase in fatalities.
Read the Minister’s full statement here.
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- PRASA Western Cape to refurbish 39 train stations in the current financial year.
WATCH LIVE: Minister @MbalulaFikile releasing Festive Season fatalities statistics #RoadSafety @TrafficRTMC @GPDRT_ @GovernmentZA https://t.co/spTrynzK4i
— Department of Transport (@Dotransport) January 18, 2022
SPEAKING NOTES FOR THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, MR FIKILE MBALULA ON THE OCCASION OF THE RELEASE OF THE 2021 FESTIVE SEASON FATALITY STATISTICS AT GRASMERE TOLL PLAZA ON 18 JANUARY 2021 AT 10H00
Full statement https://t.co/eo0hZfSWC2 pic.twitter.com/dyDxULd8mr
— FIKILE MBALULA | MR FIX (@MbalulaFikile) January 18, 2022
A total of 1 685 fatalities were recorded on the country’s roads over the 2021 festive season.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula released the 2021 Festive Season Road Statistics this morning.
He says this is a 14% increase on the previous year’s festive season road fatalities.
Mbalula says authorities recorded an increase in road fatalities in seven of the country’s provinces.
Read the Minister’s full statement here.
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- PRASA Western Cape to refurbish 39 train stations in the current financial year.
- R7 billion to be invested in improving train services.
WATCH LIVE: Minister @MbalulaFikile releasing Festive Season fatalities statistics #RoadSafety @TrafficRTMC @GPDRT_ @GovernmentZAhttps://t.co/T6Ukx3bfbn
— FIKILE MBALULA | MR FIX (@MbalulaFikile) January 18, 2022
Of particular interest is that 21 431 of these fines were for drivers who failed to wear seatbelts while 22 766 were for people who were driving without licences. pic.twitter.com/cSpJDMu8lU
— FIKILE MBALULA | MR FIX (@MbalulaFikile) January 18, 2022
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has committed R7 billion to be invested in improving train services.
The Minister says PRASA in the Western Cape has so far been able to re-establish 5 of the Mother City’s largest train services.
The Southern Line, the Retreat to Fish Hoek service and the Fish Hoek to Simon’s Town services have been in operation since last year.
Mbalula says the Cape Town to Bellvile and Cape Town via Pinelands railway service should be operational again by March.
Get the latest updates here.
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WATCH: We are now at Vasco Station@PRASA_Group CRES facilities regional manager explaining the station upgrades to Minister @MbalulaFikile, @CityofCT @mec_mitchell pic.twitter.com/EywdEcucw5
— Department of Transport (@Dotransport) January 17, 2022
We’re also joined by the Western Cape MEC, Daylin Mitchel @mec_mitchell on a site visit @GovernmentZA #PeoplesTrain https://t.co/abv4kPpOBd
— Department of Transport (@Dotransport) January 17, 2022
PRASA in the Western Cape has committed itself to refurbish and upgrade 39 of the province’s train stations in the current financial year.
According to Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula, 5 of these stations will be upgraded by the Western Cape Region.
The Minister visited Cape Town this morning as part of an oversight visit to gauge the progress of the stations’ refurbishment.
Mbalula says the majority of the stations have been severely vandalized.
The Minister says the aim is to give Capetonians access to quality and reliable train services.
Get the latest information here.
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I am satisfied that the infrastructure upgrades are on track to salvage a dilapidated a network that has been brought to its knees by criminal conduct.
These upgrades will be reinforced by a security model that relies on tight collaboration with law enforcement… pic.twitter.com/eBNBk3S1UP
— FIKILE MBALULA | MR FIX (@MbalulaFikile) January 17, 2022
