Shock, horror and disbelief are emotions raging through me due to my encounter at the Midrand Licence Department on 6 October.
The department came highly recommended as the most organised traffic department in Gauteng by my 18-year-old daughter’s driving instructor. As instructed we arrived at the department as early as 6am to ensure we could book for my daughter’s licence. At a glance everything appeared well organised, but when the doors opened at 7.30am the scenario changed.
The official who spoke to my daughter and other applicants about the application process was rude and seemed to take pleasure in verbally abusing applicants. The official told parents and other people accompanying applicants to wait outside in spite of clarifications we needed. There were no chairs to sit on outside so we had to sit on the curb in the parking lot. A security guard told us not to sit on the curb.
Inside, my daughter tried to negotiate a date that did not clash with her matric exams, but the officials were not willing to give her a suitable option.
How can an applicant not be allowed to request a suitable date? I now understand why many motorists drive without a licence.
