By Sihle Mavuso
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport has closed down the Umdoni (Umzinto) driver testing centre to pursue ongoing investigations into allegations of corruption.
The testing ground was initially scheduled to be closed between 5 and 9 February “due to operational issues”.
However, almost three weeks later, the centre that usually services hundreds of customers daily is still closed.
Kwanele Ncalane, the spokesperson for the KZN transport department, said: “There are allegations of corruption at the testing ground and the department temporarily closed it to investigate that.
“Now that [corruption] was found, the department, working with the local municipality, decided to extend the shutdown.”
Ncalane said there was a possibility that when they reopened the centre, “they will not be able to issue drivers’ licences pending an investigation, suspension and disciplinary hearings that may happen thereafter”.
“The centre may reopen only for … services like licence renewals and issuing of public driver permits,” he said.
Lulu Memela, chairperson of the Association of Owners of Driving Schools uMzinto, said the closure has hampered their businesses.
“We want the municipality and the department to explain this to us as our operations have been grounded,” she said.
“They are not giving us clear answers why the centre has been closed beyond the period they said.”
Memela said the closure of the centre will be “at the top of our agenda” during a planned protest march from Umdoni to Scottburgh on Wednesday.
The march will also protest the failing provision of water by the ANC-run Ugu district municipality, bad roads and spiralling crime in the area.
Pictured above: A driver’s licence.
Image source: Stock
