Africa-Press – Namibia. SWAPO backbencher and member of parliament Modestus Amutse has called for a change in the payment system for roadworthy permits at the Namibian Traffic Information System branch (Natis).
Presenting his motion in parliament recently, Amutse said there is a static annual licence fee payment framework at Natis, which does not support efforts to mitigate the impact of the reality of the economic downturn being experienced by Namibians.
“There should be a change in the lives of vehicle owners who have been struggling to meet the current requirements by Natis, in respect of annual licence fees,” he said.
Amutse said in terms of Section 18 (1)(a) of the Road Fund Administration Act 18 of 1999, a charge is levied on vehicles in respect of the travelling distance in the course of on-road use, and which may be based on the mass, length, width or height of the vehicle or its loading, or the number of axles of such a vehicle, or any combination of such factors.
“When a roadworthy permit expires annually, a renewal balance becomes payable. There are persons, be it companies or individuals who, because of reasonable factors, have a reduced capacity to raise sufficient funds at once, to meet that obligation.”
Amutse said individuals sometimes ask the Road Fund Administration for leave to be granted to make deposits on their balances owed, but instead, they are told to only pay when they have the full balance.
“By the time these persons manage to raise the initial balance, the penalties would have risen to the extent that will require this person to go back again with their money to raise the difference that has accumulated due to penalties. This has resulted in hundreds of vehicles being either parked or driven without valid permits,” he said.
“Non-acceptance of arrangement for partial payments to avert accumulation of debts and consequent penalties lack the balance of humanity in the African context, as far as the ubuntu philosophy is concerned. On rational principles, an inference can be drawn that the aspect of social and administrative justice is compromised by such a framework,” he said.
Amutse added that the purpose of partial payments should not be conceived as construing a demand for vehicle owners to get their roadworthy permits before full payment is received.
“It should be a submission that Natis should only release the permits once fully paid for, in order to satisfy the purpose for which the enabling act was promulgated,” he said.
Amutse said if a person would like to deposit some funds at the expiry of the roadworthy permit to avert accumulation of debts because of inability to raise sufficient funds at once, then this is a positive arrangement and should be allowed from now on.
“Making arrangements for payment is one of the fundamental principles of a good corporate relationship between a client and a service provider. Hence, that this house agree to request the Road Fund Administration to amplify its payment framework,” he said.
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