DEAR Editor:
Attention Umdoni Customer Services and the mayor, Cllr Thabani Dube, I have had numerous complaints during the course of the past week about the problems members of the public are facing at the Umzinto Test Centre.
People who have applied many months ago for their driver’s licences /renewals have made repeated visits to the centre only to be told; “there are no cards, documents are lost, they must come back, they must resubmit or they need new photos etcetera.”
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It is evident that there is a breakdown in the service which has been going on for years. I have been to the test centre many times to witness the problems for myself and have experienced this with my own licence renewal.
This is an essential service and our test centre is failing to perform. It begs the question why Umdoni chooses to be a service provider for this function if it is not capable of performing it to a reasonable standard. It would serve the best interests of the public to put the service in the hands of a competent person or alternative contractor.
I have reported the ongoing issues on numerous occasions to the general manager and the portfolio committee but the situation remains unchanged, or even worse than it was before. This centre has become a disgrace, both in the way it is managed and in its general appearance.
I humbly suggest that you make an undisclosed visit to the site and question members of the public about their experiences. It is also on record that there is high levels of corruption taking place. A recent internal theft at the centre still remains unattended to despite the police having investigated the matter.
Please put the centre into the hands of a competent person. We owe it to our citizens to do something constructive about a problem that has proved dysfunctional for far too long, and a department that lacks the capacity to correct problems.
This is the same department that fails to maintain verges and public spaces and account factually for the services it should provide.
The alternative is for me to approach the department of transport with a public petition to remove the service from Umdoni’s care. I am hoping this will not be necessary but unless something is done to clean up the centre and render a decent service, it is the only option.
COUNCILLOR EDDIE BAPTIE
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