FRUSTRATION OVER LICENSING DEPARTMENT BACKLOG
Motorist waiting for renewed card since August 2018
After applying to have his driver’s licence card renewed at the Ndlambe traffic department in August 2018, and following several visits to them afterwards, Donne Wentzel still doesn’t have his driver’s licence.
Wentzel is the latest in a number of complaints about Ndlambe traffic department backlogs around the issuing of new driver’s licence cards.
He decided to apply for the new card a month before it expired, but to no avail. “My licence was due to expire in October last year,” he said. “I went to the traffic department on August 29 and I applied for licence renewal, filled in the form and paid the amount that was required. After I waited for them to get back to me, when I went to check if my licence card had arrived they told me to come back on November 9.
“I decided to give them a bit of time and went back to check November 13, but it was still not there. Then they told me there was a three-month backlog, I thought let me wait for the new year and go again to check. Then on January 16 I went again to check, it was still not there and the worst part is that they couldn’t tell me when I could get it,” Wentzel said.
Not willing to give up until he could get a clear answer, he kept returning to the traffic department. He went twice in February, but still there was no clear answer as to when he was going to get his card. Instead they suggested that he apply for a temporary licence.
“I am very concerned about the service we get at the traffic department, it’s becoming a major problem and it’s ongoing. I have been wondering about a lot of things, I am thinking if they even still have records of my application. Now I must apply for a temporary licence that will expire in six months – that is not on,” Wentzel said.
“There was also another guy that was in front of me who was there since 7.30am and they hadn’t attended to him. He said he went for a second application for a temporary licence, since he has been waiting for his licence card. The people that work there are not doing a great job, they don’t even respond to questions asked, they are not really helpful,” he said.
Municipal spokesman Cecil Mbolekwa said it was hard for him to comment on the issue until a thorough investigation was done from his side.
“I need to follow up and navigate the root of the problem from the traffic department first before I can be able to give out an answer of exactly what the problem could be. I have to call them and investigate the issue,” Mbolekwa said.