Long wait to book for test

WE have recently experienced the inefficiency of our local traffic department. My son originally booked on August 5 to do his driver’s licence, with the first available date being September 14.

This entailed a three hour queue at the traffic department office, whereupon he was able to make an appointment for a test.

After completing many driving lessons, at reasonable expense, all timed to coincide with the test, we were informed of the traffic department strike.

After the strike, his driving instructor went in to rebook her students’ tests, but was told that the individuals had to book them themselves. My son went back last week to rebook his test.

After standing in another queue for another two hours, he was told he had to return to the traffic department tomorrow to stand in another queue to book his appointment with the manager. He was told to be at the traffic department by 7.45am but to expect to be there for most of the day.

Most of the people who are booking their learner’s and driver’s licences are pupils in grades 11 and 12. These are important years at school and they should not be made to stand at the traffic department for days on end.

The wasted time and expenditure are inexcusable, as we pay rates and taxes to enable access to services. What accountability is there from the “civil servants” to the ratepayers?

What provisions have been made to assist the alleviation of the backlog caused by the strike? Do they expect us just to grin and bear the situation?

I am spitting mad!

Mark Krebser, Port Elizabeth