Letter: Bad attitude at Tongaat

Lorna Dovey and Margo Reid of Brettenwood write:

We should like to advise pensioners/aged what awaits them should they have to do business with Home Affairs in Tongaat.

We, two 70-year-olds, went to renew passports but we were told after an hour the computers were down.

We returned the following Monday, queued six hours in the blazing sun (no shade, no benches provided). We got as far as the photo queue inside, with people quite obviously jumping the queue. When a lady ahead of us complained to the photo staff they shrugged their shoulders and turned their backs.

As a result of this, with six people in front of us we were not taken that day, as staff closed transactions at 4pm and we were told to come back the next day. We were assured we would be taken first thing next day.

On the third day first thing we queued again to be told very rudely by the manager and staff who monitor the queues, that 8am is not before 8am and to join the back of the queue. Another three hour wait in the sun, then told computers were down.

Computer failure is most unfortunate, but what was worse was the arrogance and rudeness of the staff who monitor the queues and with whom one has to do business at Tongaat. They do not respond when spoken to. Corruption is openly tolerated as people jump the queue. We were offered a front place in the queue by the car guard on arrival, for a fee.

The fact that no shade or benches are provided for the young mothers with babies, the disabled and the elderly, is positively a disgrace. School children had to miss school and obviously did not have money for refreshments. They need IDs to register for matric exams.

Toilet paper is only available from the guard and he had to stand all day at the door with no chair.

Staff attitude at Tongaat contrasts strongly with Stanger, where there are benches, where we were courteously treated as elderly persons and had our business completed in the space of 75 minutes.