Letter: Renewing my licence really was a breeze
The angst of it was quite laughable after the fact.
“Pleasantly Surprised”, Rynfield, writes:
The unnecessary angst of renewing my driver’s licence recently was quite laughable.
As the time got closer to my licence expiring and I knew I had to get online and book the appointment, I went into total dumb mode.
I had to phone a friend. I needed advice and support from others who have “been through it”.
They all said it had been a breeze. But, what do you mean? Did you go to Pofadder or something? Surely not anywhere around here is going to ‘be a breeze’? What are you talking about?
Nothing is ever as easy as they make it out to be and this is going to be a nightmare I already wish was over, was all I was thinking.
Anyway, one Friday after work I jumped onto the Natis system and got the appointment booked – wow, it was incredibly easy and quick; child’s play actually.
My appointment was at Benoni Licencing Department on Valentine’s Day. I really prayed these people had a heart.
I had all my paperwork and photos and the eye test. Let’s just hope it’s all in order.
I got there at 14:15 (my appointment was at 15:00 and they said to arrive an hour earlier).
Walking up the stairs, memories of five years prior sitting in a stuffy room and moving along at snail’s pace from chair to chair for hours on end came flooding back.
And there, at the top of the stairs, was “the room” – but no people.
There were maybe six people in total occupying the infamous wait-and-wait chairs.
I thought this was too good to be true and my heart really started pounding. I bet they’re offline and have sent everyone home. I’m the only idiot who doesn’t know this.
No. Instead, myself and another lady were ushered into an office by a very friendly man who proceeded to process my application and direct me to the tellers in nothing more than 10 minutes.
It was, to say the least, completely not what I expected, so thank you Benoni Licencing Department and everyone involved in eventually streamlining licence renewals so that we don’t have to use half our annual leave to get it done.
And, to anyone else still having to renew their licence, I can’t vouch for every licencing department, but I’ve had general good feedback.
Something seems to be working in our favour! Hallelujah!
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