Rude embassy staff raise ire
I DO not recommend that anyone deal with South African embassies overseas if you are having a bad day. Trust me, it will just make your day worse. Much worse.
Please picture this scene… Me (calling an embassy in Europe): Good afternoon, I am calling from Cape Town. I have a query about…
Embassy official: (interrupting abruptly) It is 17h01. I only came back to fetch my cellphone, which I had left on my desk and did you the courtesy of picking up the phone, but you need to call back tomorrow.
Me: I appreciate you picking up the phone, thank you for that, but my query is simply to ask if my matter is to be dealt with at your embassy or the consulate and it will take one sentence to ascertain if I tell you the nature of my query.
Embassy official: I just told you, I am off duty. Call tomorrow.
Me: I apologise but if you could just please take one minu... hello? (Dial tone hums in my ear.)
After reaching the consulate instead, in the same country, the next day, the phone was answered by the nicest lady (neither South African nor from the country in which she was working) who said that consulates and embassies were in disarray – morale was non-existent, people resigned constantly, had nervous breakdowns due to cuts in pay, huge workloads and lack of proper communication from SA and instructions from Pretoria ad infinitum. I enquired about valuable documents going via what was known as the “diplomatic briefcase” in my day and she said that even embassy and consulate staff could not use that facility anymore and that while, before, their frequency was regular, now, at their consulate, if one briefcase is sent once every two months, it is considered a lot due to funding cuts.
So my question is this: consulates and embassies overseas are our lifeline should we ever need assistance while overseas (or in many cases such as mine, while still on home soil) but if you find one dedicated and friendly person on duty, consider it a miracle.
When is the government going to stop wasting our taxes on their own selfish (car, home improvements, astronomical cellphone bills, five-star hotels and first class travel overseas etc) needs while we, the people continue to see the sliding standards and cuts in basic services everywhere? Anyone? Or is the answer to my question going to be as depressing as that dial tone ringing derisively in my ear?
ELLEN FEDELE Plumstead