Applicants to check waiting time first before booking a test at DLTC

The City of Cape Town has encouraged those applying for a learner’s or driving licence, to first check its waiting times. According to its Safety and Security Portfolio Committee, this is in a bid to ease pressure on Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs), and potentially fast-track applications

PICTURE: SAGov

The municipality said that in December 2024, the average waiting times were 25 days for a learner's licence appointment and 37 days for a driving licence appointment. Between October and December 2024, of the City's 18 DLTCs, it facilitated 17 087 driving licence tests, and 18 171 learner licence tests. By individual facility, Goodwood's turnaround time for a driving licence was 89 days, while Lingelethu West was one day, and Bellrail in Bellville was 10 days.

‘’Waiting times for learner's and driving licence tests fluctuate, based on the demand; but in the reports submitted to the Portfolio Committee, it is clear that some of our DLTCs are oversubscribed, while others have almost immediate availability. The waiting times are updated weekly on the City's website and the Traffic Service is also looking at other ways of spreading the word. That way, applicants can decide whether they are happy to wait a month or two, or if they want to take advantage of an earlier opportunity at a different facility,' said Mzwakhe Nqavashe, Chairperson of the Safety and Security Portfolio Committee.

When an applicant arrives at a DLTC to book an appointment, they are required to provide all of the necessary documentation, including relevant forms, photographs and proof of identity. Nqavashe says the information is then fed into the NaTIS system, and an appointment is generated.

‘’Many applicants are under pressure to complete their tests - sometimes their learner's licence is about to expire, or they have a job offer that requires a valid licence. If they are able to get to a DLTC that may be a little out of the way, but can accommodate them much sooner, I would suggest that they take the opportunity – for their own potential benefit, but also to help us ease the load at our testing centres.’’

 

Done By: Mitchum George