High-risk? Rules are rules
Local astronomer Case Rijsdijk, who suffers from a number of comorbidities, is aghast that the local authority is unable to grant him a special extension of his driving licence. Due to the threat posed by Covid-19, Rijsdijk's doctor has advised him to avoid confined public places at all costs. A visit to the testing station in Pacaltsdorp could well prove fatal if he contracted the virus.
But, the matter is out of the hands of the George Municipality as officials are bound to act in accordance with the National Road Traffic Act. The National Corona Command Council has not made provision to cater for individuals who are high-risk but need to renew their licences. All renewals, including an eye test and fingerprinting, must be done in person at a testing station.
To cater for the licence renewal backlog caused by lockdown, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula announced last week that the validity period of licences that expired during lockdown has been extended until end November.
Rijsdijk welcomed the grace period, but even four months down the line, renewing his licence at the testing facility may be too big a risk for him to take. "One would have thought that in terms of the current international crisis, a life is worth more than some documentation that can be extended! Surely it's in line with government policy of 'saving lives'?"
Rijsdijk's request has been escalated to the Western Cape Department of Transport who acts as "custodian of licences".
Meanwhile, Rijsdijk and many other "unlicensed" South African drivers with health problems will just have to wait and see what's written in the stars... eye test or no eye test.