More than 10 000 motorists have been fined in South Africa for not having a credit-card format driver’s licence and stopped from continuing their journey – and the road blocks are set to continue. Do you think the road blocks are fair?
More than 10 000 motorists have been fined in South Africa for not having a credit-card format driver’s licence and stopped from continuing their journey – and the road blocks are set to continue. Do you think the road blocks are fair?
Western Cape traffic manager Pat Curran said they would be setting up roadblocks indefinitely to check licences. “The number of drivers found without a valid licence has increased by 20 percent throughout the province,” Curran said.
The fines range from R500 to R2 500 depending on the province.
A number of motorists said they did not convert because they did not have the money. spoke to one driver who said he had refused to convert. “Why should we use the money that was supposed to be used on things to improve the lives of our people on converting the licences,” Nathara Mathosa, a taxi owner from Atteridgeville, asked.
And those who continue to drive without a licence could end up owing a huge amount of money. “Every time you are caught at a road block without the proper licence you will be fined, and in Johannesburg that is R500 each time. It could be an expensive and illegal endeavour,” said Johannesburg Metro Police spokesman Wayne Minnaar.
Meanwhile, the South African Insurance Association (Saia) has warned that valid proof of a licence from the department of transport is needed before accident and car theft claims will be honoured.
“The government declared that not only is the ID book licence an invalid and illegal document, but drivers who have not converted to the new format are illegal road users,” says Saia executive Caroline Da Silva.
“We merely follow what the transport department and the law stipulate. If the driver goes to the transport department and gets proof that his/her licence was validly and legally issued, he or she may claim.”