Transport Department's Provincial Licensing Board Extends Operational Hours for Festive Season

While most people in the province are relaxing and enjoying the holidays, the Western Cape Provincial Operating Licensing Board (POLB) is extending operational hours for the duration of the festive season to deal with the huge demand for operating licenses during this period.

The festive season is usually a hectic period for the POLB as it is inundated with either applications for special event licenses or renewals for existing operating licenses.

From this week onwards, the POLB will operate from 07:30 19:00 on weekdays and from 09:00 15:00 on weekends. The board has also scheduled a hearing for Thursday, 16 December 2010 to finalise all applications for operating licenses that were gazetted by Monday, 15 November 2010.

Minister Carlisle welcomed the move as a major boost for the public transport industry for the festive season.

This is great news for the public transport industry for their peak season. The boards extension of operating hours for the festive season will result in shorter, if not, no queues at all; less waiting time periods for the applications to be processed and ultimately no delays in the issuance of temporary and special event licenses. Furthermore, special event licenses will be issued within twenty-four (24) hours of the application.

We want to ensure that all deserving applicants for new or special event operating licenses and renewals for existing licenses obtain their licenses without hiccups.

We are taking our responsibility to regulate the public transport industry with excellence to ensure that all public transport vehicles are licensed properly in time for their trips. In return, we expect all public transport operators to take personal responsibility for their passengers' safety and that of other roads users by driving safely in the province concluded Minister Carlisle.