Members of the public booking for motorcycle driving licencse tests (Code A1) at the Lengau Testing and Traffic Centre in Bloemfontein have expressed shock and dismay after being ordered to travel to Welkom for this service.According to the complaints, officials ordered to travel to Welkom at their own expenses, 320 km return trip.
This applied to both candidates who intended to book tests for a learner’s licence and those booking tests to obtain their motorcycle licencse.
Express was inundated with complaints by members of the public, who expressed their disgust, and further described this decision-making as harrowingdecision.
Complainants alleged the officials had informed them that the Lengaung Testing and Traffic Centre no longer conducted motorcycle licence tests due to broken equipment.
Some said their learner’s licencses expired in July and they could not book for testing before expiry dates.
“What is Sshocking, is that no one seems to know when the new equipment will be acquired or broken equipment repaired. Apparently, it has been months since the equipment was in operation at the traffic centre. I was informed that I must travel to Welkom if I wish to take a motorcycle licencse test.
“This is truly disheartening for us people who depend on these motorcycles to make ends meet,” said an aggrieved complainant, who wished to remain anonymous.
One candidate described the decision by the officials at the centre as too costly.
“This means I must first travel to Welkom to make an appointment for the test, and then make the second trip for the actual test. It is clear this is a costly exercise, and the officials are inconsiderate of these factors. Bloemfontein is a major city in the Free State and should provide its citizens with the much-needed services without having to leave the city.
“It is extremely shocking that a big centre no longer issues motorcycles driver’s licensces, yet this mode of transport is vital.
“Several people now suffer because of incompetence of officials,” said another applicant, whose learner’s licencse is due to expire end of this month.
Efforts by Express to get comments and explanations from the Department of Police, Roads and Transport were unsuccessful.
