On September 21, I went to the licensing office in Port Shepstone to renew my PDP.
I was told to arrive early, as they were only accepting 80 customers.
So I arrived at 6am with a camp chair and a sandwich in case of a delay.
Around 7.30am, a member of staff came along checking paperwork and explaining that only one eye test machine was working so to be patient in case of delays.
My paperwork was stamped – I was number 39 so I thought this was going to be straightforward. When we entered the tar area we were told to stand in a queue with numbers stamped on the floor which we did.
The number system seemed to be working well but unfortunately there were quite a few elderly people in the queue who had to sit down on the adjacent wall for comfort.
Then a member of staff advised that we should all stand in an orderly fashion and wait for our number to be called. At least an hour passed and no numbers were called.
People needed to move to get their circulation going so we were not in line.
Then a member of staff came out and advised that if we don’t stand in line, we will “disrupt the number allocated to you”.
After another hour, those applying for learner’s licences and those who had already had their eye tests done privately were called forward, irrespective of what number they had been issued.
When we complained, we were informed it was because we had moved from our allocated number. By 2pm we were getting very frustrated.
When number 62 was called, I said enough is enough. I went into the room and waited my turn.
After passing my eye test, I had my fingerprints taken.
Then I was told I had to take another eye test (which I had passed not two minutes ago) for my PDP.
So my experience at the licensing office was horrendous.
Surely in this day and age, we should be able to renew our licence online like most countries around the world do and not have to pay cash.
Absolutely disgusted with the service I received. I do hope the municipality replies to this.
MIKE BENNISON
MUNICIPALITY RESPONDS
This problem was communicated to the clients before they entered the premises so as to sensitise them in case of any delays being experienced.
It is important to note that the equipment mentioned is technical in nature and like many other machines can at any time malfunction.
The management of the Driving License Testing Centre (DLTC) then reported the problem to provincial Department of Transport (DOT) Helpdesk which in turn referred the report electronically to Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).
The procedure normally is that their IT specialist would contact our DLTC and try to remedy the malfunction over the phone and should this not be successful then the technician is dispatched within a turnaround time of 72 hours.
The DLTC within this period of waiting for a technician will have to do its best with the LEU that is or are working.
On the day in question the applicants called in by the staff member were applicants booking for learner and or driving licence tests who only required to be screened for their vision and thereafter submit payment to the cashier.
The LEU which was used for such applicants could only do the eye test screening and not fingerprints and photograph applicants as is required when one renews a driving licence and or PrDP.
In the case with Mr Bennison who was applying to renew his licence card and or PrDP, he was subjected to an eye test on the one LEU as it could only be utilised for the vision screening and thereafter he was referred to the other LEU to complete the application for fingerprinting and image to be captured.
The queue will therefore be long since Covid-19 still exists and improvement to systems is not realised.
SIMON M APRIL
Senior Manager: Mayoralty and Communications
Ray Nkonyeni Municipality
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