The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has denied adding additional charges for online bookings, and says Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has been misleading the public.
News of a proposed gazette to increase licence renewal fees angered motorists and road users. On Tuesday, 7 September the Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) released a statement condemning the proposal, calling it ‘beyond outrageous’ and a show of deep contempt for the citizens of South Africa.
According to the AA, the proposed fees would include:
- A charge to motorists of R250 for online bookings to renew driving licences (for the booking only, excluding the actual cost of the licence)
- R700 for online registrations of motor vehicles, and R700 for online change of ownership of motor vehicles
- An additional transaction fees of R72 for every transaction performed at the RTMC
- R99 for the delivery of driving licence cards.
RTMC corrected what they called misinformation, saying it notes with extreme concern misleading reports suggesting that the government intends to add a charge of R250 to make an online booking on the Natis system.
“The information emanates from OUTA’s misinterpretation of the proposed online charges gazetted on 03 September 2021 in the draft Road Traffic Management Corporation regulations 2021. It is categorically denied that the charge is an additional fee levied simply to book a space online. Driving licence card holders are already paying this fee when renewing their credit card format driving licences at the licensing centres. It is money paid for the production of the credit card format driving licence,” RTMC confirmed in a press statement.
It reiterated that it is not new and is not an additional fee, but instead an effort to improve efficiency and reduce the time motorists spend queuing at licence centres.
“It is proposed that the public will have an option to make online payments for the renewal of driving licence cards or vehicle licence disks and to have these documents delivered directly to the address of their choice. This will improve service delivery, cut the time spent on queues at the licencing centres and bring about much needed convenience to members of the public and other stakeholders,” said Road Traffic management.
According to RTMC:
- The R72 transaction fee has been in existence for many years and has not been changed in more than three years.
- To further streamline services, it is proposed that the registration of a vehicle by a title owner and the notification of change of ownership will in future be done online.
- Insurance companies will also be able to access an electronic copy of an Accident Report.
- Members have called for these improvements and they in line with the new way of doing business in the digital era in which we live.
“We call on OUTA and its allies; including the Automobile Association (AA) to stop misleading and confusing members of the public in this way, but to join us in efforts to improve service delivery at licencing centres.”
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