The Gauteng public transport department on Thursday rejected Democratic Alliance allegations that the driver's licence system was still dysfunctional.

Department spokesperson Alfred Nhlapo said: "The DA's allegations are totally untrue. The centralisation of the Learner Booking System is working very well since it helps eliminate the illegal and criminal practice of the selling of booking slots, by corrupt officials."

Nhlapo was responding to DA Gauteng spokesperson Hermene Koorts' statement which said: "In spite of frequent promises by the provincial government to fix the driver's licence system, it is still no easier to get one. There are more and more drivers and not enough testing stations or officers giving the tests."

Nhlapo said the Gauteng provincial government was aware of the general demand for driver's licences, since people viewed licences as a key to job opportunities. Hence government had decided to build an additional 20 driver's licence testing centres in the province.

Koorts complained about making bookings through the call centre system. He said that it did not work, for some stations were overbooked and others were totally under booked.

Failing students falsely

"A lack of transparency has led to the belief that examiners are falsely failing students so as to encourage them to pay bribes.

Corruption is rife, and no attempt is made by the department to curb it." said Koorts.

"According to statistics, the call centre processes more than 160 000 service delivery queries per month, including bookings for learner's and driver's licenses. Our department is not in the business of issuing illegal licences. Instead our aim is to produce better drivers who will make our roads safer," replied Nhlapo.

"It is not true that nothing is being done about attendant challenges.

"This matter needs everyone to make a positive contribution, instead of trying to score political points and making false claims. We must all fight corruption and expose it wherever it is found and the government is definitely acting on it without fear or favour," said Nhlapo.

Sapa