JOYOUS MOMENTS AS A NEW DRIVING LICENCE AND TESTING CENTRE OPENS IN UNIONDALE
In the Photo, from left: Dawie Adonis (Director of Community Services – George Municipality), Dr Michele Gratz (George Municipal Manager), Cllr Justin Fry (Ward 24 Councillor), Cllr. Jarques Esau (Ward 25 Councillor), Ald Leon van Wyk (Executive Mayor of George), Charlton Majiedt (Department Mobility (WCG), Janine Wells (Manager: Traffic Services – George Municipality), Randal Barreiro – Department Mobility (WCG), Japie Mobele (Deputy Director Driving License Standards from the National Department of Transport).
It was a day of jubilation in Uniondale last week when a new Driving Licence and Testing Centre (DLTC) was officially opened in Uniondale to mark the end of approximately 120 kilometres of travelling for citizens of Uniondale and Haarlem to George to acquire learners license into an era of accessing this service in these residents’ locality.
The Executive Mayor of George, Alderman Leon van Wyk officially opened the new facility on Monday, 29 May 2023 and was accompanied by the councillors of Uniondale and Haarlem Cllr Justin Fry for Ward 24 and Councillor Jarques Esau for Ward 25, the Municipal Manager Dr Michele Gratz, the newly appointed director of Community Services Mr Dawie Adonis and officials from the National Department of Transport, the Western Cape Department of Mobility and George Municipality particularly Uniondale and surrounds. Representatives from key partners and stakeholders such as the Ward Committees, local schools, South African Police Service (SAPS), Department of Correctional Services (DCS), Churches, Uniondale Business Chamber and driving schools attended.
Reflecting on the journey that was travelled to merge George, Uniondale and Haarlem, Mayor van Wyk said: “We’ve travelled this journey for a while for Uniondale and Haarlem, it was a bit of a challenge to have Uniondale and Haarlem as part of the George Municipality, particularly the financial responsibilities that we had to take over as George. At the time, we did not receive sufficient financial support from the National Government to be able to deliver services successfully for both George and Uniondale.
Uniondale is situated approximately 120 kilometres northeast of George. The area Uniondale / Haarlem and the Rural Areas became one area after the Local Government Elections in 2000. This area previously known as DMA (DISTRICT MANAGEMENT AREA), was in JULY 2011, transferred to George Municipality and wards 24 (Haarlem, Avontuur ext) and ward 25 Uniondale and rural area was formed.
“Today, however, we are thrilled to have reached this stage to officially open a Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLTC), which was one of the priorities for Uniondale as it was quite a distance for Uniondale and Haarlem residents to travel to renew their licences including acquiring learner’s licenses. Even though it took years to fulfil, I’m excited to confirm that we are at the point of being able to deliver this much-needed service to this community.”
According to the director for Community Services Dawie Adonis, the George Municipality’s Department of Community Services did an assessment of all services required for the town. “One of the key needs for the town was the establishment of a driving license testing centre since the community had to travel 110km to the closest town for the renewal of driving licenses and Professional Driving Permits (PrDPs) as well as applications for learners’ licenses and the actual learners license testing. In the meantime, the municipality transported applicants to and from Uniondale and Haarlem to complete mentioned applications. This service has been terminated,” Adonis said.
“In March 2021, the George Municipality’s Traffic Department approached the Western Cape Department of Mobility for the establishment of a Grade E Driving License Testing Centre and with the assistance of the Western Cape Government (WCG) and the National Department of Transport (NDoT), the facility was registered for Grade E – Conversions of driving licenses (old ID, foreign licenses)/renewals of driving licenses cards/temporary licenses/duplicate learners/driving licenses,” he added.
SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED:
• Renewal of driving licenses and PrDPs
• Application, writing and issuing of learners’ licenses.
Driving License Testing Centre operational times:
Wednesday & Thursday
• Wednesday: Learners Class
• Thursday: All applications for Learners Licenses and Renewal Driving Licenses & PrDP
Already provided – Motor-vehicle registration transactions:
• motor-vehicle registration & licensing “renewal of vehicle licenses”
• change of ownership
• de-registration of motor-vehicles
• issuing of permits (special permits and temporary permits)
• duplicate registrations
• personalised and special license number plates
• motor-trade numbers
• change of particulars
• issuing request information on a vehicle or a person
• export of a motor vehicle to another country
• exemptions of motor-vehicles
• issuing of police clearances
• transactions to be authorised by Western Cape Government.
The Uniondale Driving Licence and Testing Centre can be reached at 044 752 1024 during office hours.
“Thank you to everyone who worked together to reach this stage of the opening of this facility, this is an important day to the citizens of Uniondale and Haarlem,” Mayor van Wyk concluded.
Dr Michele Gratz testing the eye-test machine
Attending were stakeholders such as the Ward Committees, local schools, SAPS, DCS, Churches, Uniondale Business Chamber and driving schools