The Kimberley Prospector

The Sol Plaatje Traffic Department’s Licensing Section in Ashburnham in Kimberley was closed early on Monday.

The current operating hours are weekdays from 07:45 to 15:00. However, motorists who thought they could pop in during the final hour found themselves locked out at the front gate.

The national lockdown alert level has been relaxed, but no end seems in sight for the relaxed hours at the city’s busiest department.

Municipal spokesperson Thoko Riet says when there’s a lot of admin they close earlier so they can process the day’s admin.

She says the staff work throughout their lunch hour and with all the long queues they hardly have enough time to do their admin. Closing earlier helps them do that, Riet adds.

Although the doors are closed earlier, staff only leave the office at 16:00, Riet concludes.