Widely rated as the international benchmark for systems of its kind, the Department of Transport’s National Traffic Information System (eNaTIS) recently celebrated its first anniversary. Launched on 12 April 2007, the system has proved to be outstanding in its first twelve months of operation.

So what exactly does the eNaTIS do? In a nutshell, the system is used by all provincial departments of transport, the SAPS, the SABS and a number of non-government organisations (such as vehicle manufacturers, importers and builders) to register and license vehicles. But it does much more. It manages and records applications for and authorisations of driving and learner’s licences. A highly effective law enforcement tool, the eNaTIS is used to ensure that the details of vehicles that are stolen are circulated and to prevent irregular and fraudulent re-registration of such vehicles. Importantly, the system also serves as a register for recording the decisions of safety as provided by the SABS.

The eNaTIS administrates R4 billion per annum and more than 140 million online transactions are performed each year.

The eNaTIS is a major improvement over the NaTIS, the 14-year-old system that it replaced. ‘The eNaTIS utilises the very latest technology and has, at its core, a central data centre,’ says Werner Koekemoer, the Department of Transport’s eNaTIS project manager. ‘The centralised architecture makes integrated road traffic management possible. It also means that there is no unnecessary duplication of infrastructure and data. As a result the system is much more cost-effective than its predecessor. Users connect to the system with PCs or thin clients (as opposed to the ‘dumb terminals’ used in the NaTIS) and connection speed is greatly improved. System security is of the highest order. The functionality of the system is far greater than that of its predecessor, as is its ability to incorporate enhancements to deal with new demands.’

There are 2 500 concurrent users and the system stores has more than 4.6 billion records in its database, including 20 million vehicle and driving licence records.

One of these enhancements is a highly successful centralised licence appointment booking system that is now in use in a number of provinces. In addition to streamlining the booking process, the new booking system validates examiners, testing centres and appointments, and prevents unscrupulous officials from abusing the system by extorting money from the public in order to obtain driving licence appointments. Further down the road the system will also incorporate strict electronic tagging of documents to eradicate the falsification of vehicle licences, registration certificates and driving licence cards.

The system software contains more than 3 million lines of code and 400 000 man hours were spent on development, of which testing represents around 25%.

Commenting on the brief teething problems experienced after launch, Koekemoer says switching over from the previous system was an extremely complex exercise akin to a major military campaign. ‘It entailed, among other things, transferring more than 4.6 billion records from 14 decentralised databases to the current centralised one, equipping and training thousands of users across the width and breadth of South Africa and implementing hundreds of functional enhancements. Against this background the teething problems, the extent of which was hugely exaggerated in the media, were not really significant. We experienced system availability of 93% over a period of approximately a fortnight. Therefore, contrary to incorrect reports, the system was available although functioning was briefly impaired as indicated.’

The eNaTIS is currently performing optimally and is handling very large transaction volumes speedily – on average, around 600 000 transactions are performed each day and monthly totals regularly exceed 13 million.

Koekemoer says that over the past 12 months the system has lived up to expectations and has proved to be a major asset to the country in terms of its functionality. ‘The eNaTIS has undoubtedly greatly enhanced the Department’s service delivery levels, and will continue to do so’ says Koekemoer. ‘Through careful planning and research the system’s design allows for further enhancements and the utilisation of a wide array of new technologies, as and when the need arises. As we approach the end of the first decade of the 21st century, South Africa’s citizens can rest assured that the eNaTIS will remain equal to the many challenges that the next decade is bound to bring.’