The Gauteng Department of Transport recently launched an online booking system for application and renewal of learner’s and driver’s licences.
This system was apparently put in place for convenience and to ease congestion at the centres. However, this has not been the case for one Wadeville family.
Wadeville resident Trudie Breedt allegedly received appalling service recently at the Wadeville Licensing Department, which left her and her family shocked.
Trudie’s daughter, Cindy, arrived at the department on a Saturday morning (February 2) to take her learner’s licence test. Unfortunately, the test did not take place.
Cindy’s visit on that Saturday followed an online application process which requested she be at the licensing department an hour before her test on the day, and although she arrived at 7am that morning, the series of events that followed did not allow for that.
ALSO READ: #IMadeMyMark – You can still register to vote by visiting an IEC office
“As per her online appointment application, we were instructed to be there an hour before the appointment,” Trudie recalled.
“Her appointment was at 8am; we arrived there at 6.50am.
“My daughter had to wait in the rain until just before 8am, when a man came to fetch all the people outside and ushered them onto the premises.
“The front gate only opened at 8am.”
Upon entering the building, Trudie’s daughter and others were told they were late when they arrived at the cashier’s desk and that they had to pay for their appointments the day before the test. They all allegedly responded that that requirement was not mentioned on their online applications.
Following an alleged confrontation with the staff conducting eye tests, Cindy proceeded to the learner’s licence system (CLLT), which kicked her out after she entered her ID number.
According to Cindy, she was informed that the system kicked her out because she was late for her appointment, even though she had arrived an hour early as instructed.
“My daughter left the licensing department in tears,” said Trudie.
“She was prepared for that test.
“I don’t think it is fair treating people this way.
“They took my daughter’s money knowing that she would not do the test.”
ALSO READ: Metro looks into glitches cutting off callers to call centre
The GCN contacted the metro to gain insight into the operations of the licensing department and the CLLT.
“Our core services at the centre are applications, testing for learner’s and driver’s licences and renewal of both driver’s licences and professional driver’s licences,” said Nhlanhla Cebekhulu, the divisional head of communication and media relations for the metro.
“All centres cater for both walk-ins and online bookings.
“Cindy booked online and accepted a booking that was scheduled for 8am on February 2, 2019.
“The booking is confirmed upon the applicant paying the requested fee at the centre on or before the expiry date, which in this case was the date of the test.
“Prior to the day of the test, the chosen centre has to determine, before the actual test, the code or class of learner’s licence (i.e. code 1, 2 or 3) the applicant qualifies to be tested on.
“Hence, the applicant must report at least an hour before and not when the test starts.”
The working hours at the centre are from 8am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, except for Wednesday (9am to 3pm) and the first three Saturdays of the month from 8am to noon.
Nhlanhla added that on the day in question, when the centre opened its doors, eight people came to confirm their online bookings, including Cindy.
The applicants who had already confirmed their 8am learner’s test bookings were told to go to the class and start their test.
“The eight applicants who came to confirm their bookings on the day were informed that the learner’s licence system (CLLT) gives only an allowance of 15 minutes from the booked time of test for the candidate to log on,” said Nhlanhla.
“Failure to log on within 15 minutes results in the applicant being logged out before the test, which means that they cannot write in that case. All eight candidates who were yet to make payment were advised of these facts.”
ALSO READ: No job or tender is for sale in the metro
The report also claimed that all candidates continued to take the eye test and proceeded to the cashiers, even after being advised that failure to log on within the specified time would render their tests cancelled.
“Cindy made her payment at 8.14am,” said Nhlanhla.
“She insisted on continuing with the process regardless of warnings from the cashier that she might not make it on time for the test due to a possibility of a log-out by the CLLT system.
“Unfortunately, when she tried to log on, the CLLT system kicked her out as she was already late.
“The other people who came after her took the advice of the cashier and booked for other days.”
Unsatisfied with the metro’s response, Trudie insisted that there was no expiry date specified on the online application for payments and that her daughter arrived an hour early but was unable to complete her test even with payment presented.
The metro reiterated that booking is confirmed upon applicants paying the requested fee at the centre on or before the expiry date.
“The eNatis system that is used to book and test candidates for learner’s licences is a national system that the metro only uses to provide the service,” said Nhlanhla.
“When the candidate made her booking, the system gave her a date and time on which she should confirm the booking.
“When Cindy made the payment at 8am to confirm the booking, the cashier explained to her that there was a possibility that the system would kick her out as it was already late, but she insisted that she would like to proceed with being assisted to confirm the booking through payment.”
Nhlanhla further advised the public to note the working hours, and that the requirement for an applicant to be there an hour before the test means within the operating hours.
“Since the centre opens at 8am on Saturdays, and our first class starts at the same time, we advise people who make the confirmation on the same date they are scheduled for their tests, to rather opt for a booking scheduled on a different day.”
Have a story?
Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.zaor Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist) kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za
Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:
Or add the GCN on WhatsApp 079 406 1181 or BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137) today, to get all the latest news.
Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers Bedfordview Edenvale News, Alberton Record and Kempton Express.
