Mayor Helen Zille will officially open the Joe Gqabi Drivers' Licence Testing Centre in Philippi on Tuesday, 27 March 2007 at 11:00. The Mayor will be accompanied by Cllr Dumisani Ximbi, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Cllr Elizabeth Thompson, Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater and the MEC for Transport, Marius Fransman.

An artwork and a new washbay facility will be opened at the same event.

The need for such a centre to serve Philippi and surrounding areas was identified as far back as 2000 and a culmination of processes and activities led to its establishment.

The new centre will include the following facilities:

• Learner drivers' testing
• Testing for drivers' licences and
• The issuing of roadworthy certificates

The installation of the National Traffic Information System (NATIS) will allow the centre to extend its capacity to make provision for other services. The centre will be equipped to handle roadworthy tests for all types of vehicles, ranging from trucks to buses and cars.

The centre will ease the current backlog in roadworthy tests and learner and drivers' licence tests.

According to Metro Police spokesperson Nowellen Petersen, the City is aware of the great demand for learner and drivers' appointments. "It is our endeavour to reduce the current six month waiting period for learner and drivers' tests to three months or less", he said.

A-grade testing equipment was imported from Germany to assist with testing for roadworthiness on all types of vehicles.

All media are invited to attend the opening.

Date: Tuesday, 27 March 2007
Time: 11:00-13:00
Place: Joe Gqabi Public Transport Interchange, Stock Road, Philippi East

Issued by:

Communication and Marketing
City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 2201
Fax: 021 957 0023

Media Queries:

Nowellen Petersen
Metro Police: Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 084 771 1483