My daughter and I had a most wonderful experience at the Home Affairs office in Germiston.
We went there last Friday to see if we, as Dutch girls, still needed a re-entry visa stamp in our Dutch passports, after more than 30 years living in SA. (We cannot afford to become SA citizens, as we won’t be getting an old age pension from Holland anymore and we sure as hell won’t be getting here in SA!)
We nearly fell over backwards with surprise at the reception we had there. The smiles of all the employees there are lighting up the world. What a difference from the Home Affairs offices in Alberton and Randburg. Grumpy sods there who don’t even look you in the face, never mind smile!
They do not care about the public they have to serve, because they do not realise that it is their job. All those offices are total dumps, which could all do with some fixing up! A coat of paint would do wonders and a good scrub of the floor-tiles!
Again, many thanks for the friendliness shown to us from the Germiston Home Affairs employees. You made our day!
Nelly Pearce