South Africa News
Bad news about driver’s licences that expire before March 2022
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has confirmed that drivers whose licence cards expire between 1 September 2021 and 31 March 2022 have not been given an extension to renew their licence cards.
Transport minister Fikile Mbalula announced on Friday, 27 August 2021, that the grace period for renewing licences that expired between 26 March 2020 and 31 August 2021 was extended to 31 March 2022.
“To give motorists a fair opportunity to renew their licences, while we are rolling out several measures to improve efficiencies and resolve challenges, we have decided to extend further the grace period for the renewal of licences,” Mbalula said.
While the decision was met with relief among the thousands of motorists who could not get bookings for their new licences, there was no reprieve for numerous motorists whose licences expire within the new grace period.
Wayne Duvenhage, CEO of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), told MyBroadband that these drivers were now prejudiced with a system still under significant pressure.
“Many, if not most, will not be able to renew their licenses for the same reason that those who were supposed to do so in August have not been able to,” Duvenhage said.
Duvenhage stated the authorities needed to manage the situation better and provide the extension relief in a more structured manner that would not repeat the current bottlenecks.
“How these extensions have been provided has the impact of a concertina-ed effect that causes a rush at the new deadline, which includes many months of expiry dates crammed into one month,” Duvenhage said.
“What the authorities needed to do is to provide a blanket extension of all driver’s licenses, for a period of 6 months, thereby keeping the monthly pressure on the licensing offices constant, while they resolve their administrative and corruption issues,” he said.
If the issues are not fixed within six months, more extensions will be required, a situation which would make a “mockery of the State’s ability to govern”, Duvenhage said.
As a solution, Outa has also proposed that the transport department seriously consider extending the renewal period of all driver’s licenses from five to ten years.
“Our research has shown that this is common practice in many countries around the world, and the motivation to renew every five years until a specific age is unnecessary,” Duvenhage said.
He pointed out this exact change was approved in a government gazette in November 2012 published by then Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters. However, before the changes could be promulgated in October of 2013, the decision was reversed for reasons unknown.
“We believe the current minister Mbalula should reinstate the decision of that gazette in 2013 and allow all drivers licenses from this day forward to have five years added to the expiry period,” Duvenhage said.
“This would alleviate the current backlog overnight.”
Duvenhage said the RTMC would probably lose money from fewer excessive administration fees but believes the efficiency would reduce pressure on their administrative structures. Related costs should also be reduced.
In the long term, Outa said the government could increase compliance with the regulations by ensuring there were corrupt-free processes that enable more effective digital and walk-in appointments, which were free or at an extremely low cost.
“All touting and people walking the parking areas of Driver’s License Testing Centres should be removed, and guards should be placed at the entrances to these administration centres, to ensure the public are not accosted by people who take bribes that facilitate a fast-tracking process for licenses,” Duvenhage said.
Source: News365
In other news – Lasizwe reveals why he will not work with Cedric Fourie again
Lasizwe has definitely made his mind clear that he won’t be working with Cedric Fourie. The star made this known in the last episode of his show, Drink or Tell The Truth.
Lasizwe stated that that there are some lines he wouldn’t cross in their friendship and he will want it to be like that. Learn more
South Africa News
Godswill Akpabio advocates reduction in cost of governance
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has called for transparency, accountability and the elimination of unnecessary expenditures to cut down on the cost of governance in the country. Akpabio made the call on Monday at a one-day dialogue on the cost of governance in Nigeria organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS, in Abuja.
Akpabio, who was represented by Sen. Agom Jarigbe (PDP-Rivers) highlighted the possible factors contributing to the high cost of governance in the country.He said the size of the country’s bureaucracy, the escalating public service wage bills, the overhead costs of appointed public officials, and the salaries and allowances of elected officials are major factors.
According to him, the running of government institutions among other substantial components contributed to weighing down the economy and hindering development efforts. Let us hold ourselves accountable and take responsibility for the betterment of our nation. We have to ensure that our government operates efficiently and effectively, serving the needs of the people and fostering sustainable development,” he said.
The president of the senate emphasized the need to streamline bureaucracy, eliminate unnecessary expenditures, and ensured transparency and accountability at all levels of governance. We must invest in our human capital, empowering our public officials with the necessary skills and knowledge to drive progress.
“And we must foster a culture of innovation and creativity, where new ideas can flourish and transform our nation,” he said.Akpabio urged all Nigerians to remain united, become agents of change and be committed to making sacrifices for the nation. He said that the 10th Assembly was ready to partner with all stakeholders to do everything within its constitutional powers to make Nigeria for all citizens.
Source: pmnewsnigeria
In other news – Bad leaders making the life of Nigerians miserable – Pastor Giwa
The senior pastor of Awaiting The Second Coming Of Christ Ministry, Adewale Giwa, on Sunday, lamented that the economic situation in Nigeria has gone from bad to worse under President Bola Tinubu.
The clergyman noted that bad leaders were intentionally making life miserable for Nigerians. Read more
South Africa News
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South Africa News
Manchester City 0-0 Arsenal
Manchester City 0-0 Arsenal. Manchester City and Arsenal handed Liverpool the advantage in the Premier League title race as they played out a bitterly disappointing goalless stalemate at Etihad Stadium.
Liverpool are now top of the table and two points clear of Arsenal after they came from behind to beat Brighton at Anfield, their delight increased by their two closest rivals cancelling each other out.
This was a game that made a nonsense of its billing as a potential classic, as Arsenal’s containing tactics snuffed out City while the Gunners had only limited chances of their own in a desperately poor affair.
Nathan Ake had an early close-range header saved by Arsenal keeper David Raya before going off injured while former City striker Gabriel Jesus posed an occasional threat, just failing to connect with Bukayo Saka’s cross inches from goal after the break.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be happier than City counterpart Pep Guardiola with this outcome – but the real winners were Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.
Guardiola’s side were under greater pressure to win this match but their usual fluent passing game was rarely in evidence, stifled by the visitors’ organisation and infuriated by referee Anthony Taylor’s reluctance to punish the Gunners for a succession of infringements.
It led to a scrappy, disjointed game in which City were never allowed to gather their usual momentum and rhythm, with even the best efforts of master creators Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva unable to carve out meaningful opportunities for Erling Haaland, who was kept on the margins throughout.
The hosts held sway in possession for most of the second half but it was illustrative of the game that Raya barely had an anxious moment, his counterpart Stefan Ortega also idle for long periods.
Indeed, it is the first time City have failed to score at home in the Premier League since October 2021, a run of 47 games.
The reigning champions, as usual, will remain confident of retaining their title but Guardiola will be bitterly disappointed at his side’s failure to trouble Arsenal, with substitute Jack Grealish on the end of some lengthy post-match advice from his manager.
City are back here at Etihad Stadium to face in-form Aston Villa on Wednesday night knowing they cannot afford any more slip-ups in this tight Premier League title pursuit.
Arsenal arrived at Manchester City with a point to make and a chance to show their improvement at a ground where they have had a miserable record in the past.
The Gunners last won here in January 2015, drawing one and losing eight of their subsequent nine visits before this game.
Here, Arteta set his side out to be fiercely drilled and well-organised to frustrate, a strategy seemingly designed to earn the point they secured rather than risk more for victory.
It was a conservative approach but what it did demonstrate was that Arsenal do have more resilience and character than on previous occasions, when they have sometimes capitulated under City’s attacking assault.
Arteta’s side were composed but also willing to throw bodies on the line when danger threatened, not that they were ever in serious peril of conceding – a tribute to their display in itself.
They have kept clean sheets in both games against Manchester City this season, making them only the fourth team to shut out a Guardiola side twice in the same season.
Whether this is one point gained or two lost remains to be seen, but Arteta seemed satisfied enough at the final whistle.
source – BBC