The KZN Dept of Transport has initiated an internal investigation after a video emerged on social media with driving licence cards on the ground and the person recording the video inviting drivers to collect them from the flood-damaged Rossburgh Driver Licence Testing Centre (DLTC).
The video which has been circulating on social media shows hundreds of driver’s licence cards lined up in rows on the grass at Rossburgh DLTC.
“Whoever has a driver’s licence made at Rossburgh must come to look for it here,” says the woman shooting the video.
Transport Head of Department, Siboniso Mbhele, said the video being circulated is not an official government communique and should not be treated as such.
Department spokesperson Kwanele Ncalane, said the department has launched an internal investigation into the video.
Ncalane said the video shows driver’s licence cards being dried after they were affected by the recent floods which damaged the station.
“The unauthorised video is disrespectfully inviting members of the public to come to collect their licences. This manner of approach is not in line with the Batho-Pele values that the department promotes,” he said.
He further explained that with clean-up operations currently underway at the centre, there are more than 100 people on the premises, including the Expanded Public Works members who are part of the clean-up team.
Mbhele, said public documentation such as the application of learners and licence cards should also be handled with care even in the event of a disaster.
“The station remains closed with some services relocated to other offices. We are in the process of assessing the extent of damage to some of our documentation before deciding on which people we will be able to issue their documents, and to which will need to restart the process,” he said.
However, Mbhele said all the necessary communication will be done using the correct platforms and in the correct manner.
“We have directed the management of Rossburgh to do an investigation as to where the video originated and as to who was behind this mischievous act. We are hoping to resume the collection of the cards next week but that is subject to the safety assessment which will have to be conducted,” he said.
Meanwhile, KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala and MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Neliswa Peggy Nkonyeni, led a massive clean-up campaign along the flood-hit Edwin Swales and at the Rossburgh DLTC on Tuesday.
This comes after the centre was completely damaged during the floods, and services were temporarily relocated to the Pinetown DLTC.
Speaking at an update on the response to the recent floods in the province yesterday, Zikalala said they conducted a site visit to the Durban South Water Aqueduct and ended with a clean-up campaign at the Rossburgh DLTC.
“The purpose of these visits has been to assess the progress being made in returning critical infrastructure of our province back to normal. This is part of oversight and monitoring being carried out by members of the Executive Council (Exco), together with MPLs, mayors and councillors throughout the province.
“These leaders are being joined by NGOs, the Faith-based Community, representatives of Business and Labour, and Leaders of all political parties who have taken it upon themselves to make the pain of the people of KwaZulu-Natal at this time, their own pain,” he said.
KZN Department Of Transport to Investigates Licence Cards Video Inviting Public To Make Collections In Flood Damaged Rossburgh Licencing Centre. pic.twitter.com/TbWtIPgjft
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