DURBAN - THE KwaZulu Natal driving school operators have brought traffic on the N3 to Pietermaritzburg to a standstill.
The operators, who are driving in a convoy of several vehicles, are making their way to PMB to hand over their grievances to the premier's office. They said they want the department of transport to recognise them and to give them proper training facilities.
Dulip Kumar Maharaj, of Gemini driving school in Phoenix, said the department of transport does not recognise them.
“We need recognition from the department of transport. We need funding and proper training facilities so that we can train people in a proper manner,” he said.
The drivers formed a convoy with their cars on the highway and drove slowly, and some also stopped their vehicles on the road. The drivers started this at the Marianhill toll plaza.
The driving school operators were also carrying posters calling for designated parking bays so they could train drivers. Another poster called for the RTMC (Road Traffic Management Corporation) to keep their hands off on their business.
This refers to the RTMC introducing an online booking system for people to book for learner's and driver's licence tests and driver's licence renewals. The introduction of the system has raised the ire of driving school operators in Gauteng, which shut down Driving Licence Testing Centres in protest last week. They claimed they were being cut out of the process and would be unable to assist clients.
The operators also said they are not happy with the Minister of Education Angie Motshekga, stating that schools may soon introduce driving lessons.
Zinhle Mngomezulu, thespokesperson of Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), said the demonstration had brought the N3 to a standstill for over an hour.
This is a developing story.