Surprise visit catches licensing department off-guard
MARLBORO - Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi made a surprise visit to the Sandton Licensing and Testing Department in Marlboro during an inspection of the crumbling infrastructure of Witkoppen Road.
After receiving reports of corruption at the facility and unsatisfactory service from staff, Vadi dropped in on the centre to find out if there was any truth to the reports.
On arrival at the centre the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport’s head of communications, Octavia Mamabolo said she was treated rudely and dismissed by some of the staff when she asked to speak to the manager.
Floor manager of the centre, Margaret Mkwanazi was reluctant to speak to Vadi and the media, and at first hid behind her office door. Before long she emerged and accompanied Vadi on a tour of the facility. Vadi spoke to customers and inquired whether they were satisfied with the amount of time they were spending in the queues.
Most customers agreed that while there were long queues, there was a definite improvement from the queues they had to endure in the past. Some of the complaints from customers were that the customer management was shoddy, that staff should be more friendly and that staff should wear identification tags.
Vadi then moved on to the testing ground adjacent to the licensing centre. He questioned one examiner about the rumours of bribery, asking, “Is there any corruption here?” to which the examiner who did not want to be named replied,” It depends what you mean by corruption?” Vadi asked the examiner if anyone had ever tried to bribe him. “The odd one,” the examiner said. “They ask if we can make a plan.” Vadi asked the examiner what “the plan” would be to which the examiner said,” I don’t know what the plan is.”
Vadi concluded his visit by telling Mkwanazi that customer management needed to be improved and that there needed to be staff on the floor. He also said staff needed training in being more polite and efficient. Vadi added that there needed to be proper signage in the centre and the staff needed to wear name tags. Mkwanazi said most of the staff weren’t wearing name tags because they were broken, but Vadi said that they needed to at least wear paper labels until new tags could be ordered.
I was also treated very rudely there, last week. These people should be thankful that they have a job….that is paid for by the taxpayer.
I want to thank Sandton Chronicle and the Brandy fusion,for the tickets.I had a great time,kindly regards thank u