Good news for motorists is that the Minister of Transport has indicated that, subject to adherance to the necessary hygiene and sanitation requirements, testing stations will be open for business from 1 June.

Julian Pillay, national director for the Vehicle Testing Association (VTA), a proud Association of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), said VTA members, which represent testing stations nationally,  have already  indicated to their various Provincial Departments of Transport that they have implemented these measures and will be ready to resume operations.   He said some Provinces have already conducted physical inspections to ensure compliance and have received guidelines detailing conditions under which vehicle testing can take place. This includes limitations on the amount of vehicles to be tested on a daily basis.

“An important point to bear in mind is that test station users of the Natis system have not accessed Natis in more than nine weeks. There may therefore be delays at some stations during the first few days while all the Natis users are reinstated. It is best to contact your local test station to make sure that they are online or contact your regional RMI office first to check if their local VTA testing station is open. Numbers for the regional RMI offices can be found on the RMI website,” he says. 

“Opening of the testing stations is subject to government validation so there could be some slight delays as the system opens. We recommend consumers contact their regional RMI office first to check if their local testing station is open. Numbers can be found on the RMI website,” he says. 

Along with the opening of testing stations, the good news is that all licenses and roadworthy certificates, as well as learners’, driving and temporary drivers’ licences that expired during the period starting on 26 March and ending on 31 May 2020, are deemed to be valid and their validity period is further extended by 90 days as from 1 June 2020.

For Motor Dealers and those who use Trade Plates, these are also deemed to be valid in the same way, but their validity period is extended for a further grace period of 6 months from the date of publication of these directions (6 months from 20 May 2020).