Dealerfloor is aware of the fact that this problem is widespread and stems from mismanagement and a lack of planning regarding shortages of toner and paper, malfunctioning printers and equipment, water and electricity interruptions that lead to the closing down of operations without notice or any back-up plans.

In the latest incident, the Vaalweekblad newspaper reports local motor dealers have had enough with ongoing service delivery failures constantly crippling licensing operations across the Sedibeng District Municipality.

According to the report, Tessa Pienaar (photo), chairperson of the Vaal Triangle Dealership Forum and dealer principal at Mahindra Vaal, the district’s licensing offices were once again forced to close this week, this time owing to a shortage of toner. It follows months of repeated disruptions caused by a lack of paper and electricity, as well as water supply problems and poor maintenance.

Tessa says the situation has reached breaking point. “This is the umpteenth month in a row. It’s leaving the motor industry in the Vaal Triangle in a complete mess. It’s going to put us out of business,” she told Vaalweekblad.

In a strongly worded letter sent to the Minister of Transport, the Gauteng MEC for Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, and several industry bodies, including NADA and RMI, Pienaar appealed for urgent intervention. She says the Forum, established in 2013 and affiliated to the Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce, has repeatedly stepped in to provide paper, toner and even extension cords to keep services running.

In the letter the Forum states:

As a Forum, we have repeatedly stepped in to provide material support — including paper, toner, and electrical equipment — to sustain basic service delivery. Unfortunately, the situation has escalated beyond our capacity to continue providing such assistance.

We therefore urgently request your direct intervention to:

1. Ensure accountability for the persistent service failures within the Sedibeng District.

2. Implement immediate corrective measures to restore consistent operations; and

3. Develop a sustainable plan to prevent further disruptions in the future.

We trust that your office will treat this matter with the urgency and seriousness it deserves. We remain available for engagement and willing to contribute constructively to finding lasting solutions, the letter concludes.

Despite these efforts, she claims that late payments to service providers and a lack of accountability within the municipality have led to repeated shutdowns. The latest closure, on 3 November, left dealerships unable to register vehicles or submit documentation to banks, delaying sales and affecting cash flow across the region.

By Friday afternoon, a group of frustrated community members reportedly gathered outside the Vanderbijlpark licensing offices in protest.

Tessa also tells Dealerfloor that the Vaal Triangle Dealership Forum’s aim is to standardise issues like the method of payment (debit card instead of cash) and other mutual issues affecting dealerships across the board. “The internal disputes between the province and the local authority about who is responsible for what and when should not affect our business.”

In its reaction the National Automobile Dealers' Association (NADA) is aware of the ongoing challenges dealerships are facing with the Sedibeng Municipality’s licensing departments, particularly in Vanderbijlpark, where frequent closures and shortages of basic materials, such as paper and toner, have disrupted operations.

“The matter has been formally escalated to the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport, and NADA is awaiting engagement with the relevant officials to work toward a sustainable and lasting solution.

“NADA, together with the Vaal Triangle Dealership Forum, remains committed to constructive dialogue with authorities to restore reliable service delivery and support the stability of the motor retail sector in the region,” NADA’s statement concludes.