"Reinventing the Wheel": How Technology is Transforming the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport
As the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport continues to roll out advanced technology across its smart Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs), the age-old problem of cheating during learner’s licence tests is slowly becoming a thing of the past. But what other innovations are on the horizon for the department?
At the Smarter Mobility Africa Summit 2024 in Johannesburg, Tshepo Kgobe, CEO of the Gautrain Management Agency, revealed that plans are underway to expand the centres to underserviced areas of Gauteng, with a focus on reducing processing times and increasing efficiency. "We’re looking to reduce the time it takes to renew a car disc from 12 minutes to 7.5 minutes," he said.
And it’s not just the DLTCs that are getting a tech overhaul. The department’s online.natis platform has already seen over 2.5 million vehicle owners opt for online licence renewals, with plans to integrate this service with the smart DLTCs.
But perhaps the most significant innovation to come out of the summit was the announcement by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy that the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has partnered with Huawei to employ an intelligent e-guarding perimeter system to secure its infrastructure.
The system uses artificial intelligence to alert a central control centre when there are security breaches or incidents occurring within the system, including a seismic activity tracker that monitors digging within rail depots. This proactive approach to infrastructure security is a major departure from the reactive approach taken in the past, and could be a game-changer for the industry.
As the department continues to push the boundaries of technology, it’s clear that the future of transport in Gauteng is looking bright. But what other innovations can we expect to see in the coming years?
The War on Fraud
The department’s use of technology to combat fraud and corruption is another significant development. In 2022, a probe into the department’s DLTCs uncovered serious corruption and fraudulent activities, which cost the department R1.4 billion.
In response, the department has taken a number of steps to prevent similar incidents in the future, including the implementation of a new booking system and the use of CCTV cameras to monitor testing sessions.
But the department isn’t just relying on technology to prevent fraud. According to Kgobe, a number of measures are being taken to prevent fraudulent activity, including the use of biometric data to identify applicants and the implementation of a new payment system.
The Future of Transport
As the department looks to the future, it’s clear that technology will play a major role in shaping the transport landscape in Gauteng. From fully digitised driver’s licence testing and vehicle registration to the use of real-time monitoring of roads networks to avoid congestion and road accidents, the possibilities are endless.
And it’s not just the department that’s embracing technology. According to Creecy, a number of private companies are also investing in smart solutions to improve the transport experience in Gauteng.
From ride-hailing apps to electric vehicle charging infrastructure, the future of transport is looking bright. And as the department continues to roll out its smart technologies, it’s clear that the future of transport in Gauteng is in good hands.