“The Department of Roads and Transport in Limpopo has introduced the Computerised Learner´s Licence Test systems to eliminate the fraudulent issuance of learner´s licences, at a cost of R20,8 Million at Lephalale, Tzaneen, Polokwane, Marble Hall and Makhado, ” said the MEC for Roads and Transport in Limpopo, Ms Pinky Kekana, when tabling her R3,237 billion departmental expenditure budget for 2010/11 in Polokwane last Thursday.

The budget represents a 7.2% increase when compared to the R3.019 billion for the last financial year. Kekana said that the learner’s licence system has been freed from the shackles of corrupt examiners. The system now makes use of technology such as touch screens and is available in all official languages.

“We have recently cancelled over 40 driver’s licenses that were fraudulently acquired and have suspended six eNaTIS users and two examiners, due to their alleged involvement in corrupt license activities,” she said.

The department is in the process of implementing the Best Practice Model in line with the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s Strategy. “The Best Practice Model is a service delivery model for motor vehicle registration and licensing functions, whose objectives are to reduce fraud and corruption, improvement of service delivery, improvement of uniformity of licensing processes and improved cost-effectiveness and cleansing of data on eNaTIS,” said Kekana, adding that the system will be piloted at the provincial help desk and three registering authorities such as Polokwane, Tzaneen and Makhado.

She said her department had already started training 28 contract workers for the implementation of the Best Practice Model at the provincial help desk.

The department, according to Kekana, will construct four multi-purpose testing centres which will accommodate testing of motor vehicles, testing of driver´s licences, road safety and law enforcement. The centres will be built at Muswodi village in the Mutale area, Dilokong, Northam and Lulekani. The department will again upgrade the Giyani vehicle testing station from Grade “B” to Grade “A” in order to be able to accommodate the testing of heavy motor vehicles. “We have set aside R71 million for these projects," she said.

"We are also going to install sophisticated mobile cameras and recorders in our traffic vehicles to record all moving traffic violations, such as overtaking across barrier lines and reckless and negligent driving. We are also in the process of fitting some of our vehicles with an Automated Number Plate Recognition System that is able to detect and release particulars of offences and outstanding fines committed by the targeted vehicle. The system is linked to eNaTIS and can reveal all other vehicles which are registered in the name of the owner of the vehicle scanned," she said.

"This will assist us in dealing with more than 200 000 outstanding warrants of arrest for traffic violations in the province. In this regard, we will be equipping all traffic officers with new firearms and provide a new set of uniform at a cost of R15 Million," said Kekana.

The department is also going to procure 35 traffic vehicles at a cost of R5 million and establishing 30 additional scholar patrol points throughout the province to ensure safe crossing of the road network and streets for learners at primary school level.