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Cape Town - South African drivers are now required to provide a proof of residence when applying to renew their vehicle licence.
The new rule came into effect on November 1 2015 by the National Department of Transport as part of Regulation 32A of the National Road Traffic Regulations.
Wheels24 spoke to Siphesihle Dube, Western Cape minister of transport and public works spokesperson, who answers our users' questions.
Push for eNatis system
Dube says these new rules were promulgated in 2014 and are in effect from November 2015.
READ: New car licence rules for SA: Angry users respond
Dube says: "Basically it's to ensure that we as the licensing authorities can work better to access all drivers who have vehicles registered with the system and all other people who need to contact the eNatis system for what ever reason."
Here are some of the questions we asked based on Wheels24 user responses:
Wheels24: What’s the reason behind the new rules for vehicle licences?
Dube said: "This is national legislation followed by all provinces. It is to enhance and maintain the integrity of data recorded on eNaTIS as the officially legislated register of motor vehicles and drivers. Accurate and complete information will ensure that we are able to communicate effectively and timeously with the vehicle owner or driving licence holder.
"The verification is for now once-off only (may change in future to periodic according to provincial requirements) even if the entity owns multiple vehicles. The process itself should take under 5 minutes."
Watch the video below:
Poll results
We asked users what they thought of SA’s new vehicle licence rules and a News24 poll garnered 19 194 votes.
What do you think of SA's new car licence rules?
It's a huge inconvenience - 5068 votes
It's just a scheme for unpaid e-toll bills - 6489 votes
Proof of residence will end fraud - 1889 votes
I don't receive bills so I don't know what to do - 2465 votes
I don't see a problem with the new rules - 3283 votes
The majority of users (6489 votes) believe the new rules are a scheme by government to collect outstanding e-toll bills. More than 5000 said providing proof of residence is a ‘huge inconvenience’. About 17% (3283) of respondents said they have no problem with the new rules and only 1889 believe providing proof of residence will end fraud.
Click here for a list of acceptable documents posted by the City of Cape Town.
User questions answered
Dube answers users' questions:
1. Why are South Africans no longer allowed to renew licence discs at the post office?
Dube: "This arrangement changed in 1993 in the Western Cape when we appointed municipalities to take over the function and we are fairly covered ito of being able to provide acceptable service at our counters, and renewal of licences via EFT and postal service. Once eNaTIS is ready internet and ATM renewal will follow as provided for in the NRTA."
2. What will youngsters have to do to get a learner’s or driver’s licence when they are underage, have no proof of residence and no utility bills?
Dube: "An affidavit / affirmation by the person whose residence it is confirming the relationship and that person’s proof of address."
3. Many South Africans live abroad and have been relying on relatives to renew their licences. What will these licence holders need to do if they do not have a local residence to provide proof of residence?
Dube: "Proof and confirmation by the applicant stating the country, city or town and residential address where he or she resides, the period of stay, that he or she will be unable to renew the licence in person and the name and identification number of the person who will be submitting the application for renewal. As the address of the nominated person should be recorded on the eNaTIS so that he or she can receive the MVL2 renewal notice, this nominated person must present ID and proof of address."
4. What about those who do not own property and live with others? e.g What is the procedure for a person staying with his/her children?
Dube: "An affidavit / affirmation by the person whose residence it is confirming the relationship and that person’s proof of address."
5. I am currently residing in Gauteng and my car is parked in Cape Town at my parents home. The trouble is that due to work I have been moving from province to province and have kept my mailing address at my parents’ home address as the post office has become unreliable of late. What alternative is there for those of us who live in another province due to work? I keep the car at my parents place because it is convenient for me now I am renting so I do not have utility bills in Gauteng secondly my postal address is in Cape Town as I am more likely to receive communication at this address.
So what am I supposed to do to prove my cars are mine?
Dube: "This is not about proving ownership, but about verification of ID particulars and address. Proof and confirmation by the applicant stating the, city or town and residential address where he or she resides, the period of stay, that he or she will be unable to renew the licence in person and the name and identification number of the parent who will be submitting the application for renewal. As the address of the parent should be recorded and confirmed on the eNaTIS so that he or she can receive the MVL2 renewal notice on behalf of the vehicle owner, this parent must present ID and proof of address."
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