/ 23 May 2007

New traffic system is faster, says Radebe

The controversial new electronic traffic information system (eNaTIS) is performing transactions twice as fast as the system it replaced, MPs heard on Wednesday.

It is currently operating at an average rate of 619 000 transactions a day, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe told members of Parliament’s transport portfolio committee.

”The old NaTIS system performed an average of 287 000 transactions a day. Between April 13 and May 7, the [new] eNaTIS system performed on average 326 000 transactions a day, 13,4% more, with 93% up-time,” he said.

”After the interventions since May 8, eNaTIS has performed at an average 619 000 transactions a day … with 100% up-time, which is quite unprecedented.”

The new system is aimed at allowing ”convenient easy interaction with … members of the public”.

It saw numerous breakdowns since going live on April 12, raising the ire of the public and the motor industry over delays and poor or non-existent service.

The problems disrupted vehicle sales, with many buyers not being able to register and take possession of their vehicles.

Radebe ascribed the problems to a 53% increase in the number of vehicles in South Africa, and a build-up of data to be processed after a five-day shutdown to install eNaTIS. — Sapa