By Priya Ranchod
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport is looking at ways to address ongoing driving licence booking problems, improve accountability in the driving school industry and ensure learner drivers receive proper training.
The department has proposed establishing a Gauteng Driving School Technical Committee and will pilot an improved booking and payment system at the Edenvale and Marlboro Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs).
The plans were discussed at a meeting held at Koedoespoort on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, where Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela met driving school stakeholders. Rand West City MMC Bruce Nimmerhoudt and Sedibeng District Municipality MMC Ntjanyana Phala also attended.
The meeting focused on challenges affecting driving schools, including limited online booking slots, system downtime, inadequate training facilities and alleged irregularities in the booking process. Stakeholders also called for better cooperation between government and legitimate operators.
Diale-Tlabela said a permanent consultative platform was needed to ensure that discussions resulted in meaningful action rather than repeated complaints.
“We cannot continue meeting without making meaningful progress. We need a structured forum where government and the driving school industry can address challenges openly, agree on responsibilities and work together towards a professional, transparent and accountable licensing environment,” she said.
The proposed technical committee would give government and driving school representatives a formal platform to address operational difficulties, improve coordination and strengthen learner-driver training across the province.
The department is also considering a dedicated business account for driving schools. The proposal aims to support legitimate operators while ensuring the public continues to have fair access to driving licence services.
Diale-Tlabela said driving schools played an important role in road safety, skills development and community development, but stressed that the industry had to operate within the law and maintain professional standards.
“Driving schools are important partners in road safety, skills development and community development. We want to support legitimate businesses, but this must go hand in hand with compliance, ethical conduct and accountability. Our shared responsibility is to ensure that learners receive proper training and become competent, responsible drivers,” she said.
According to the department, its database contains more than 454 driving schools across Gauteng. The National Road Traffic Amendment Act, 2024 (Act 8 of 2024), provides for the registration and grading of driving schools, strengthening the regulatory framework for professional driver training.
The MEC urged driving school operators to obtain the necessary registration and certification, uphold professional standards and work with the department to improve licensing services.
She said cooperation between government and the industry was essential to resolving persistent problems, supporting legitimate businesses and creating safer roads for all motorists.
“Our objective is to move from frustration to cooperation and from recurring challenges to practical solutions. By working together, we can strengthen the industry, create opportunities for our communities and make Gauteng’s roads safer,” Diale-Tlabela said.
The proposed committee and pilot booking system are intended to help address longstanding concerns within the industry. The effectiveness of these measures will depend on how they are implemented and whether they improve access to bookings, strengthen accountability and make the licensing process more transparent for driving schools and the public.
