DEAR Editor,-
Recent letters in the South Coast Herald have saddened me.
On December 8, I arrived at the Port Shepstone Licensing Department at 11am to renew my driver’s licence.
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I collected the application forms the previous week and enquired about photos, ID copy and other requirements to save time.
I spent 10 minutes in the queue, expecting to get a number at the door.
The place was full, but peaceful. A neat, courteous man collected ID documents for copying.
When he came back, he called out 20 names – mine included.
After a glance at my age (75), lo and behold, exactly six minutes later I was called in to do the eye test, which I thankfully passed.
I was then directed to counter number two and joined the ‘queue’ of one man.
Five minutes later, I paid my R250 and it was done and dusted.
As I strolled out grinning from ear to ear, I shook hands with the friendly man who had assisted me. He sure did me a big favour.
The younger people waiting were relaxed and the atmosphere was great.
I revisited the office on January 22 and discovered that my licence was ready for collection. I am still in shock.
I applied on December 8 and received my card on January 22 – collected at 3pm and there were only nine people waiting.
To all those people who complained, I don’t think standing there from 5.15am is necessary because the office only opens at 8am.
And I don’t think that all delays are the fault of staff members.
The office is well-run and properly organised. Well done to all staff members, keep it up – you guys are an asset.
Perhaps earlier applications were not sent on for processing or it could just be the unreliable postal service and the documents were not lost, but never sorted and posted?
PS: I was so sorry to see that Butthead’s Beat and David Holt-Biddle’s ‘From my Hide’ are no longer part of the South Coast Herald.
It is such a pity because now all we read is bad news like murder and rape, or school news and small event briefs.
Those two articles that are no more really made for some lighthearted, interesting reading and brightened my day.
VERONICA COTTAM
Southport
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