I am now so angry it just isn’t funny! I have tried every day for four weeks to get a booking to renew my driver’s licence at the Krugersdorp Licensing Department. “Zero slots available”, day after day after day after day!
This is the centre I always use as it is closest to me and the most efficient. Only slots I could find is all the way on the East Rand, but I live on the West Rand! I am a pensioner … and will definitely not travel all the way to the East to get my licence.
Other people are complaining constantly that no matter where they try, they also keep battling with the “zero slots available”.
Why has this ridiculous, tedious, non-working online system been implemented? It does not work!
Why can I not just go to the Krugersdorp Licensing Department, which is open every day, to renew my driver’s licence as I did four years ago?
Am I supposed to end up driving with an expired licence?
Is this yet another way for the government to make more money off us … fines for driving with expired licences?
* All you have to do is find a slot, anywhere, any date, even if it’s six months away, and book it, then print out the proof of the booking. As a pensioner, you do NOT have to wait for the actual date booked before you can apply for your licence. Take that print-out, plus your old driver’s licence, your ID book, the required number of photographs, the right amount of money (in cash) and go to the Licensing Department of your choice (I used the Florida Licensing Department, where I was assisted by a delightfully competent, friendly female JMPD officer).
Get the correct green form at that Department (don’t waste time downloading the form from the internet – it has to be the green one), and complete it. Then join the queue to get your eyes tested (or get a completed certificate from your optician if you wear glasses or contact lenses to drive. These certificates are issued free of charge if you go to your regular optician). If you have the certificate, go straight to the cashiers’ desk. If you don’t have it, wait to get your eyes tested, then go to the cashiers’ desk. If your current licence has already expired, or will expire within a couple of months, request a temporary licence at the cashiers’ desk.
Pay the necessary fees, take your temporary licence, which is valid for six months, and leave. You’re supposed to get an SMS within six weeks telling you when your new licence is available. I haven’t received my SMS, although it’s been six weeks since I submitted my application. I shall be checking up soon. – Ed.
