City has processed more than one million vehicle licenses since June
05 December 2020
The City of Cape Town’s motor vehicle registration and licensing offices have been hard at work despite the severe pressure caused by the national lockdown COVID-19 backlogs. Officials have processed more than one million vehicle licenses since June 2020. It normally takes a year to process applications for the 1,3 million vehicles registered in Cape Town, but officials have been working in an effort to eradicate the COVID-19 backlogs, despite not having received the terminals required to do the job from national authorities. It is important to note that office operations could be impacted by the COVID-19 resurgence.
Our officials are currently clearing the remaining COVID-19-backlogs, while performing as many new transactions as possible. It must be noted the City does not control the national vehicle licensing system and is limited by the inadequacies of the system and the infrastructure allocated to the City by the national authorities.
The City thanks its customers for their patience during this extraordinary time and apologises for any inconvenience caused.
Customers are reminded that the accounts and motor vehicle licensing offices are traditionally at their busiest over November and December and this year, it has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 backlogs. In addition, the National Transport Information System (NaTIS), which is not a City system, has had problems that are causing delays.
Please consider using the City’s e-Services for licensing applications. For planning purposes, factor in approximately three weeks from application to receipt of the license through the Post Office. If you have applied for your motor vehicle license renewal recently, it is unlikely that you will receive it ahead of or during the festive holiday season period.
‘The City regrets the delays and extended queues at our vehicle licensing offices, and apologises to motorists. Apart from the COVID-19 backlogs, there are problems with the NaTIS which impacts on our performance. We ask for their understanding while the national authority in charge of the NaTIS, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), resolves the problems. It is outside of the City’s control, but we are working with the service provider to see to it that problems are resolved as soon as possible when they occur.
‘The City also has not been provided with adequate numbers of NaTIS terminals by the RTMC to service the 1,3 million registered vehicles in Cape Town. The City is ready to expand its vehicle licensing offices but is unable to do so until it receives additional terminals from the RTMC. As a result, our staff are having to work after hours and over weekends to process the large volumes of vehicle registrations and renewals.
‘We have been informed that additional terminals have become available and we hope that we will receive these in the not too distant future.
‘City staff have done an exceptional job in consistently processing more than double the normal amount of monthly transactions since June this year. Despite operating in these abnormal times, City staff have continued to do their best to keep up to the normal operating standards. With the recent data indicating a COVID-19 resurgence, we encourage customers to please make use of our online service offerings, where possible. It is important to avoid crowded areas and facilities and only visit an office for urgent business,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Finance and Executive Deputy Mayor, Alderman Ian Neilson.
For office closure dates and operating hours during the festive season holiday period, please visit: https://bit.ly/CCT-OfficeClosures2020
Customers are reminded of the following National Transport regulations (note fines are nationally determined, the City may not unilaterally write off fines):
Discs that expired on 31 October 2020: should have been renewed by 23 November 2020
Discs that expired on 30 November 2020: renew by 22 December 2020
Discs that expire on 31 December 2020: renew by 22 January 2021
Motor trade vehicle numbers/trade plates: should have been renewed by 30 November 2020
Driver’s and learner’s licenses: renew by 31 August 2021 (these are for licenses that were up for renewal between 26 March, and 31 December 2020)
What to expect when visiting an office:
COVID-19 screening at the entrances. Limited number of customers allowed in at a time due to COVID-19 regulations
Social distancing is required and must be adhered to
Visit early in the day. If queues are too long, please consider returning the following day. There are longer queues due to reduced staff at some offices as required by COVID-19 regulations and high volumes of transactions are being experienced
You only need your ID for motor vehicle licensing and registration renewals
To check customer office operating hours, please visit the Operations and Service Notifications document on the City’s website or the City’s social media pages ahead of time if unsure
For vehicle licensing:
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
