EDITOR – If you want to wreck your day all you need to do, as a pensioner, is to go to the Edenvale Driver’s Licence Office.
A friend and I (73) recently went to the above department, arriving at 8.30am.
Because we are pensioners she could not stand for long periods, so she sat while I stood.
At 9am a gentleman came and gave us forms to fill in saying we needed copies of our IDs.
My friend went across the road to get copies which cost R5 each and got back into the queue by 10 am.
It took us until 11am before either of us could do our eye tests, although we were in a line of musical chairs “other lucky people ” just walked and would just go to a cubicle to do the test while we waited hours.
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By the time I finished my eye test, it was 12.15pm.
I personally think the eye test machines need to be serviced. It is almost impossible to see what is in that box.
I also think the joystick is not correct. Most people could not make out which way the E was facing.
My friend and I both failed the eye test.
We then went up to Edenglen and did an eye test with no problem. Once we got back, it took us exactly nine minutes and we were in the paying queue.
The only pleasant person in that whole building was the woman cashier in the last booth.
She spoke politely and was friendly and had a lovely sense of humour.
We were told that we would wait three months for our licence.
Also read: Service delivery questioned at Bedfordview Licensing Department
I still feel the people who sit behind the desks should do the eye test. t is almost impossible to see what is going on.
So if you print my letter, I pray the eye test machines will be serviced.
What a waste of a day.
Pensioners are not assisted quickly. They can stand all day in the hot sun. Who cares? No one.
Diana Kent.
EDITOR’S COMMENT – A request for comment was sent to the City of Ekurhurleni on March 7 requesting comment by March 8 at 2pm. At the time of going to print no comment had been received.
Update – Comment received on March 26
EDTIOR’S COMMENT – City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson, Themba Gadebe commented as follows:
There are normally five eye testing stations at an office.
Two of the stations are reserved for applicants with renewal appointments while another two are reserved for applicants who did not make appointments.
The last station is reserved for pensioners.
What may seem to be skipping of a queue might be a client approaching a booth reserved for the service they require.
The city’s eye testing machines are in good working condition.
All applicants must pass eye test before the city can renew a driving licence card.
If an applicant does not pass eye test at the office, the applicant is referred to an optometrist for an eye test.
