EKURHULENI Metro has set up a number of interventions to advance efficiency and speed up turnaround times at the licensing department.

Executive Mayor Ntombi Mekgwe said the metro was finalizing initiatives such as Business Desk and Central Management of Bulk Registration.

These initiatives will enable the metro to effectively deal with clients including vehicle renting companies doing bulk vehicle registrations.

Speaking at the official opening of the Bedfordview drive-thru licensing centre recently, Mekgwe announced that the metro was also establishing a training academy for driver and vehicle examiners, which will address the question of capacity.

"The new interventions also include a dedicated service for older and disabled persons," Mekgwe said, adding that all these innovations are aimed at ensuring the streamlining of service and maximizing the utilization of the metro's facilities.

She also announced that the metro was facilitating an intergovernmental forum to better manage tasks and responsibilities between spheres of government.

Some of the metro's plans include the implementation of a complaint management system and SMS-based feedback loop informing public members about the availability of drivers' license cards and when their licenses expire.

"We will soon be introducing alternative methods of payment, such as debit cards and credit cards at our licensing facilities.

"With the increasing demand for licensing services, the metro will roll out a comprehensive infrastructural programme for these facilities.

"These interventions will add impetus to recent achievements such as the introduction of the open boundary system to enable the citizens to receive uniform services throughout the metro," Mekgwe said.

Furthermore, the metro has solicited the services of a training institution in order to improve the skills of all licensing employees.

This was done to ensure that licensing personnel are up to task and that all 10 drivers license testing centres and 10 motor vehicle registering authorities are governed by the respective uniform standard operating procedures.

Source: BuaNews