Vehicle testing resume
GO AHEAD: Station GO AHEAD: Station
Good news for motorists is that vehicle testing stations will be open for business from 1 June when South Africa shifts down to Level 3 lockdown.
However, this is strictly in adherence to the necessary hygiene and sanitation requirements.
Julian Pillay, national director for the Vehicle Testing Association (VTA), said their members, which represent testing stations nationally, have already indicated to their various provincial Departments of Transport that they have implemented these measures and will be ready to resume operations.
He said some provinces have already conducted physical inspections to ensure compliance and have received guidelines detailing conditions under which vehicle testing can take place. This includes limitations on the amount of vehicles to be tested on a daily basis.
“An important point to bear in mind is that test station users of the Natis system have not accessed Natis in more than nine weeks,” he says.
“There may therefore be delays at some stations during the first few days while all the Natis users are reinstated.
“It is best to contact your local test station to make sure that they are online or contact your regional RMI (Retail Motor Industry Organisation) office first to check if their local VTA testing station is open.
“Numbers for the regional RMI offices can be found on the RMI website,” he says.
In addition, all licenses and roadworthy certificates, as well as learners’, driving and temporary drivers’ licences that expired during the lockdown are still deemed to be valid and their validity period is extended by 90 days, to 31 August 2020.