DEAR Editor,-
With the rate of unemployment in South Africa on the increase one might expect government agencies tasked with issuing documents required by law before an individual can undertake work to be, well … efficient. If nothing else, you might expect them to at least be on the side of the applicant. A family member took code 10 truck driving lessons last year and they don’t come cheap. Having finally completed the requisite number of hours, we were able to book the test – finally. More money. He passed his test and was then told he needed to obtain a ‘Professional Driving Permit’ (PDP) from the licensing department. That was in early October 2013. Sometime around November 2013, a call came through to say he could come in and collect the PDP. On arriving and waiting to be seen, he was met with a somewhat bewildered public servant who was unable to find the PDP. Six months on and we are still waiting for the elusive PDP, despite numerous calls.
Anyone who has stood at Port Shepstone licensing department can tell you that speed and efficiency are not the department’s strong points. So much so that, on a recent trip back I stood there with all the other hopefuls waiting to get my licence renewed and right there in the queue I decided I would rather retake my driving test in the UK and never have to deal with the Port Shepstone licensing circus again. As I was leaving, some kind old man said I should come back at 4pm – just before closing time. Apparently you’ll never see them work so fast at any other time of the day! Nice.
I often think of South Africa when I am in London. There are things about it that are just so awesome. The people are great. You have none of the class arrogance that one finds in Europe. The mountains, sea and general aesthetics are unmatched anywhere in the UK. But, my God, when it comes to service and efficiency, I haven’t enough tears for you. The sad fact is that it doesn’t have to be this way. Where are the managers? Where are the supervisors? Where are the measures to ensure lines are cleared within some kind of acceptable time period, or do people not matter that much?
The world is changing at incredible speed. It may not always seem apparent to people on the South Coast, but I assure you in the last ten years we have seen the emergence of some incredible technology. The rest of the world simply cannot wait six months for a department in Africa to produce a piece of paper. It is killing jobs in this country. Can the average unemployed person in South Africa afford a financial hiatus of six months while some comatose department functions at glacial speed? The public offices owe South Africans more than that. They are supposed to work for you and, with the existence of call-back technology, call centre technology, queue management methodologies, management practices, not to mention the great need for employment in South Africa, it really doesn’t need to be this way.
STEVE ATTWELL
