A concerned resident contacted the News just after 1pm on Friday, 30 April claiming that he was told by security officers at the Mogale City Licensing Department there were no staff to help him despite having a scheduled appointment.

The Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) was contacted and Mokete Lethetsa, Manager of the Mogale City Motor Vehicle Licensing and Registration Centre responded.

We are very perplexed by the report the News received that the Licensing Centre was closed as it is and has been operational today with skeleton staff since this morning. This smaller staff complement was to attend to bookings specifically.”

Per happenstance, the News knew of another resident who was on her way to the licensing department to pay and confirm her driver’s test appointment. She reported that the security at the gate told her that she could not go in because of the reduced number of staff, and that she would not be unable to pay for her appointment.

She requested that the security staff put it in writing and she subsequently gave the note to the News. Both residents enquired as to what special arrangements would be made for the former’s missed appointment, and for the latter not having paid for her appointment on time.

Mokete’s advice?

The affected person/ s should contact the Licensing Centre staff for assistance on any of the following numbers: 011 668 0689/ 011 951 2187, or send an email to rika.vanaswegen@mogalecity.gov.za or dumisani.mdluli@mogalecity.gov.za.“

He added that, “The number of working staff was reduced due to industrial action. The Licensing Centre will be fully operational from Monday and if tomorrow was not a public holiday, we would also have been open as is the norm. Unlike many other, the centre operates on the first three Saturdays of every month.”