LETTER | I'm a paramedic, if we can't get PrDPs, we get suspended without pay

2020-11-04 14:32

Janine Van der Post

Ambulances from the emergency medical services of the South African West Cape Province, where the tourist metropole Cape Town is, being prepared by paramedics for the night shift. Due to high crime rates and gang warfare, ambulances in South Africa are only allowed to travel at night into certain areas - where violence belongs to every day life - with police protection. Photo: Kristin Palitza/dpa (Photo by Kristin Palitza/picture alliance via Getty Images)

• Gauteng motorists continue to battle booking online appointments.

• The eNatis system is failing the public.

• Zero slots continue to be a problem.

• For more motoring stories, go to www.Wheels24.co.za

There have been many, many emails from motorists who are battling to book online appointments to renew their licences, but this one from a frontline essential service employee really hits home.

Our essential workers are the unsung heroes, not just during the global pandemic, and we need as many men and women in these fields as we can get. The fact that even they are battling to renew their licences which has a direct impact on their jobs, and their families, is unacceptable. 

The online eNatis system is extremely difficult for users to navigate and some motorists have been trying for more than four months to book appointments.

We continue to share letters from the public in a bid to make the RTMC that another alternative solution should be found.

Wheels24 reader Robert A shares his views:

I'm a medic working for a private emergency medical service company in Ekurhuleni. 

Our employment contracts require that we have valid PrDP's to work. If our PrDP expires, then we get suspended without pay.

Since the licencing departments have reopened after the lockdown, I have been trying to make an appointment to renew my PrDP through the online system and have encountered constant problems. 

I constantly struggle to get into the system

There are never any slots available on the days that I'm not working.

For the past several weeks there has not been any slots available in the entire Gauteng.


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