Licence renewal frustration finally ends in joy
The department expressed its regret about the lack of communication with the public about the reasons for the service delivery issues in Vredefort, which could have prevented De Jager and other members of the public's frustration.
More than two months’ struggle to get his driver’s licence renewed, has finally ended in joy for a frustrated Parys resident after the Deputy Director of Transport, Admin & Licencing of the Free State Department of Police, Roads & Transport, Nthabiseng Matsoake, personally stepped in to redress the matter.
Renier de Jager’s frustration started on June 27 when he first went to the Vredefort licencing offices – two months before the expiry date of his driver’s licence.
Although the process was started for the renewal, he was turned away time and again when he visited the office in the weeks to follow with countless excuses why he could not be assisted.
He visited the Vredefort office a total of seven times with no success, only to find the system to be offline or the office closing at 10:00 in the morning.
Eventually his licence expired, leaving him not only distraught but worried about his insurance in the case of an accident with him not having a valid licence.
He finally phoned the Gazette last week after once again failing to get feedback on the matter at the Vredefort office.
The Gazette made a call to the department’s spokesperson, Hillary Mophethe, who immediately attended to the matter.
Shortly afterwards she gave feedback, putting De Jager in contact with Nthabiseng Matsoake, who waited for him at the Sasolburg office and personally assisted him to resolve the matter.
The department afterwards explained that a 3G dongle was stolen at the Vredefort office, causing the office to be offline. It was promised that the matter will be resolved in due cause.
The shortened office hours were attributed to days when the office was faced with water problems.
The department expressed its regret about the lack of communication with the public about the reasons for the service delivery issues in Vredefort, which could have prevented De Jager and other members of the public’s frustration.
It was confirmed that the Sasolburg, Kroonstad and Viljoenskroon offices are fully functional, while the Koppies office is still closed due to an investigation after fraudulent activities.
An investigation with regard to fraudulent activities at the Parys office is still ongoing.
This affects service delivery although all services are rendered, the department confirmed.
