Here is what South Africans have to say about getting a drivers licence and our testing stations CRISIS
Many things happen in our country that concerns drivers and learners licence holders. And people of all sorts go through many things in different provinces. Here we have tried and gather different views about situations that affect us. And also there is the another bloc master in getting a drivers licence, Failing your drivers licence after struggling to get a booking and the frustration of not getting a driving test booking when you need it!
South Africa Comments Topics
In search of a legal license | Spending a fortune on learner's/driving test/bookings | Passed my code 8 test | eNatis - Today was not the day | Drivers licence comment | I need a booking fast | Cape Town | Licence Crisis GP to Mpumalanga | Learners for a Bike | Licence crisis | Concealed | Malelane Traffic department | More comments about booking a driving test
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Thanks for a nice website
Today is Friday(2007/07/27) I've been trying to call Gauteng call
centre
since from 8 am no one is picking up a phone and now it 2pm. Why do
we
have a call centre if we can't get through? This thing is making me
mad.
Thanks
You know Priscilla , we all complain about enatis
You know Priscilla , we all complain about enatis , and with good reason , but there is another side to the story as well.My daughters both passed their k53 learner licences first time , they also passed there drivers licence tests first time, and why ? Because they invested a lot of time and effort in preparing and studying for it , and their mother and I invested a lot of money for driving lessons , but guess what , it was worth it , because now that they are allowed and licensed to drive , we feel comfortable that they are ABLE to drive according to the rules and with the proper SKILLS required to do so. The road accidents on our roads are horrific and we feel that we have contributed , even in a small way to help upgrade the level of skill of drivers on the road.
A matter that should get as much publicity as enatis and driving licence related topics are the condition of the vehicles on our roads today.That is a far worse matter than any other on our roads currently. Some of the vehicles so (called roadworthy vehicles) are nothing but death traps. And what are our traffic police doing , they are trapping for speed , day in and day out. How many times do we drive past a real skedonk on the road just to find out that it has just driven past a traffic police stake out , and they would not even bother to get of their backsides , stop the vehicle and test it , oh no sir , we rather catch vehicle owners who drives ten to fifteen kilometres over the speed limit with perfectly road worthy vehicle who are capable of performing perfectly at high speeds!How do you explain that one my Zulu Princess!
This is a summary of my experience in search of a legal license
Here is the story:
I finally got my booking at Alberton on 7 May for a test on 24 May. This was pure luck after all my attempts every day for +-2hrs on the phone 0860 4288 364. Well, yesterday, the instructor, whose name I will never forget took me to the test. I was doing code 10. He gave me all the instructions and details of the test in his office.
We went to the truck and I was asked to start with the pre-trip inspection, time set at 20 minutes, using a stopwatch. I did that and we went to the yard for the alley docking and all the sorts for code 10. For some reason, the man started shouting at me from outside the truck. He said " Boetie move that f##cked truck man! Stop observing a thousand times yeses man!" I kept quite; concentrating and doing what the driving school instructor said I must do i.e. do not use the accelerator in the yard and remember all yard & road rules. The license instructor actually forced me to use the accelerator. The man was shouting as if possessed by demons.
I kept my cool. I drove to the steep hill and met him there. He climbed inside the truck. He started again, " Boetie do not drive like a woman on the road, if you do I will fail you and I will drive the truck back do you understand boetie?" I said " Yebo boetie". I did the steep hill well. I drove out with the gear at 1with both my hands positioned well for the pull & turn method on the steering wheel. He said F###k man boetie! Look at your hands and arms so stiff, did they teach you that at the driving school?" I replied now, "Boetie, I was trained to use the pull & turn method on the road and this is it". He replied " F####off boetie man". At one stage, he said " Boetie, F###ck man, you are driving on the pavement boetie k###k man!" I checked all my mirrors; the vehicle was well on the center and actually approximately 15cm from the white line dividing lanes. Lapho ke, uvele wanceda amandla and actually, I apologized and said "Ngicela ungixolele boetie tu" Both of us knew that I was just right, no error there! He replied, "F##ck, forgive you, S###t, boetie”
We approached a yield sign, sort of a skewed T-junction with the "yield" sign marked on the road I was driving on, he said I must turn Ü left, vehicles were approaching from my ¬RIGHT DRIVING to same direction as me, Ü left. I observed the situation well on time and indicated left Ü, well on time. We all know in this situation one must yield to oncoming vehicles and move only after all traffic had passed, there were a lot of cars, I decided to secure the vehicle by braking safely on the shoulder and applied my hand brake, the traffic from my right to left was heavy. The man shouted again “S#$eet, Boetie man, what are you waiting for! “Bl##dy fool, drive the F##cking truck man! Calmly and with confidence as I had already detected that he is subjecting me to extreme duress, I said “Boetie, now as a driver, I am in control of the vehicle and I am giving right of way to approaching traffic as the yield sign commands me to do so.” I enraged the man even more. He banged the dashboard and ended saying “ aboetie o ke tlo mpolaya wetsi! Move the f##cked car” (forgive my Sotho or Tswana I am Swazi phela.) The man wanted to jump or something. At this time, I just gave an internal giggle, you know the giggle that gets you when you are thinking alone and end up talking alone? I just laughed inside man! In am way, this was the best moment. After, traffic had cleared, I moved the vehicle safely. He wanted me to drive. Imagine the collision and the daily gossip tabloids with a heading “ Learner driver kills licensing instructor ” or something to that tune!
Well, the next thing, he forces me to increase my speed from 40-45 to 60. He shouts move the thing man; drive like a man and not like a woman! I replied, “boetie as a learner, I have been confidently requested to drive 40-45 during my test. Suddenly, he points to a road sign indicating speed a 60 max and said “use f***ck common sense, look at that sign, when you wrote your learners, what was your answer to the question asking minimum speed? Then, thinking that I already had failed my license, I decided to move the thing now, the speed climbed to 80-100.
Well, throughout the test on the road, the man was so vulgar and used " F###ck", idiot", "bl##dy fool" a thousand times. I thought to myself, well bro, this game is called "endurance". I endured the downtime of eNatis, incompetent call center staff, and lack of clarity in terms of availability of dates and now this venom-spitting son of lucifer under the guise of Licensing Officer! I said to my self, bro, for all of this, you must get this license today and failing this, I will go to the license "ATM's" (back door)
The truck was moving; the owner calls it a “quantum”. That thing moves man. I thought, well I failed, just put him to hell now. Surprise, the man was now singing a song something like “ ta ta la la a la al tara ra ta ra”. We arrived at the yard; he climbed out banging the door running inside and leaving me in the truck. I was confused now. The guy from the driving school approached me and asked and now? I said, do not know bro. I saw the look in his eyes, I thought, well this confirms ukuthi I failed”. The guy said run after him. I went inside the offices and asked for him. I could not find him. I looked for the office where he had briefed me before the test. I could not find it. I sat down confused. After 20 minutes or so, I retraced my steps when I came inside the building in the morning. Finally, I found the office went in, he asked, “ where have you been”. To the rest rooms, I replied. He now says to me, “your surname sounds familiar, up to 1987, I was a teacher and one of my students had the same surname as yours. He lives in Natalspruit now. Do you know that family?” I said no. My relatives are all in Springs and some in Dube Soweto. He was speaking softly now. Finally, he gave me papers to sign. He said I had passed. I believed him. I knew I did well during the entire test. There was a long queue at the counters. He arranged everything. I did not even wait like others!
Therefore, once out, I told my story to those outside from the same driving school as me. Others said, well you are lucky, he failed me twice, others recalled the same incident as my, the vulgar language and all agreed that he wanted to put me under pressure and stress me to determine whether I will be able to handle a vehicle under extreme situations. I agreed with them but not the language. I just wonder what is his family subjected to. I am sure his former students were happy on his resignation.
My plea is: To all licensing officers reading this, including you dunder head who tested me yesterday, as a civil servant, be reminded that the government says “batho pele”. Use appropriate language and imagine if you as a customer at a private institution like a bank, you go to the bank to withdraw R20, 000 from your savings account and the teller says to you “ F##ck sir, there is not a bl##dy f##cking cent in this sh##t account of yours! Move your ass now. Next F##cking customer please, geeze the day is bl##dy long and there are 35 Sh##ting clients on the queue! What would you do? Heh? What would you do?
Anyway, I got my temporary worker license now and looking forward to the solo driving experience
Spending a fortune on learner's/driving test/bookings
Good Day
Myself, and my 2 kids, got our learner lisences the 1 st time(guess we were just lucky) then came the driving lessons, each of us must have gone for at least 20 lessons each, at a cost of R80per hour.
Then we made appointments for our driving tests, we had to wait 2 months for an appointment(PE), finally the day of the test came, no luck, my son went 7 times before he got his driver's lisence, my daughter 4 times, and now i'm still battling, going now for my 6th time, and hopefully and praying that it will be my last.
Of course a person is nervous when you go for the test, they take off points for every little thing, things such as blind spot u missed, car rolled( probably 5mm),i mean come on guys, base the test on the overall driving skills. I am not saying just to issue licences left/right, but please be reasonable. Can you imagine what all these lessons, and bookings have cost me for 3 of us.
And when you fail, the next appointment is only available in about 2 months time, I am on my 2nd learners lisence, as the 1st one has expired, and going for my test for the 6th time. Really this is ridiculous, you actually start losing faith in yourself, and family and friends think you're an idiot, for not getting your drivers lisence.
HELP!!!!!
GR8T NEWS: PASSED MY CODE 8 TEST
Hello Priscilla
I have passed my drivers test 14.05.2007. I'd like to thank you for the weekly links, they really helped me to be more prepared. I now realise that parallel park, alley docking, steep hill and 3pt turn are techniques 2 bmastered 2 become skilled drivers, I now make it a habit to use the parallel 'n alley docking moves whenever I park.
2 all drivers out there - GOOD LUCK 'N SAFE DRIVING.Diane;-)
eNatis - Today was not the day
Good day Priscilla
Like most people I have been watching the media for word of when the new eNatis system will be online as I urgently need a learners licence for a motorcycle. I have been reading News24.co.za and your website for information. Eventually the word was that things would be all systems go on Wednesday 9 May.
I was at the Secunda Licencing Department at 6:40 am this morning and waited patiently until 7:30 am for the department to open. Unfortunately at 7:30 am a representative emerged to tell us that the system is still offline and that we should come back tomorrow. I decided to to go into town and have the required photo's taken after which I returned to the department hoping that they were just having a slow start and would now be online. Much to my frustration they were still offline.
I sat and waited for about 20 minutes when I decided to speak to one of the ladies behind the counter. She showed me one of the computer screens which had an error message on it with and "OK" button and she told me that the system is still offline.
This was at about 8:45 am. Since I work in IT, I know that error messages do not just "disappear" and a connection made when a system come back online. You actually have to click on a button or press a key to clear the message and then try to reconnect. My point is this: is there not also a certain amount of site issues going on here. Once the system tells them "offline" at 7:30 am then that's it for the rest of the day. Perhaps the staff at the various department don't know how to recheck if the system is online again.
PS. Your website is brilliant and has been very beneficial during this "downtime" of eNatis.
Drivers licence comment
Hi I am trying to find out how to book on line for a learner's and licence, when I saw your site. My daughter is staying in Middleburg, Mpumalanga.
She will be going on the 8th May for her 3rd driving test. They give you no chances, any mistake you make, no matter how minor it is they fail you. I understand they have certain points considered to be major errors on which they fail you immediately, but surely they should give you a chance to complete the course - point out the errors you made and depending on what those errors were then fail you.
Her first time she reversed the car, touched the curb and was failed immediately, she did not even get a chance to drive the course. Her second time, she did the course - no problems - and then on the parallel parking touched the curb and was failed immediately. It did not matter that there were no other problems, no discussion nothing !!
A friends daughter went for the 5th time in Pretoria last week and was failed because she parked to close to the curb. They are forcing the people to drive without a licence, the cost involved to book every time is so high that it is nearly worth the risk getting a fine. I can understand that they must become stricter, but within reason surely, I wonder how many of those examiners can parallel park without any mistake.
I need a booking fast
I'm actually very frustrated right now because my learners has expired in February 2007 due to the fact that I couldn't get a booking anywhere I hope & pray that this will be the last test that I will have to do.
I've called the call centre and guess what?? I can't even get a guaranteed booking they've had to put me on waiting list again. I desperately need to get my license before the end of the year, I just hope the traffic department is doing everything in their power to curb these kind of situations.
Cape Town cant get a booking for my drivers license
I called the licensing department in Cape Town to get a drivers license booking for myself. They tolled me they no longer take people, because the system is full the whole of 2007 and its only the 25 of April 2007. Priscilla is this true?
Licence Crisis GP to Mpumalanga
Hi Zulu Princes
Thank you for the informative information with regard to the test center crisis in GP as noted on you very good website:
I have been trying to get a code 10 drivers licence since last year. My learners expires in October this year.
On the other hand, am under pressure here at work to get the licence! All along, they understood the problems associated with the booking system. Now it is really serious.
Daily, I hear people with referals where a date could be "organised" asap. I do not want to follow this route. Am a good SA citizen. By the look of things, am now compelled to follow suit. After reading your article today, I called the GP call center and an agent promptly answered the phone. I was not expecting this! However, like you said, I was disappointed as the system was offline. My details were taken down with a promise that I would be called within 24hrs.
I called various Mpumalanga test stations starting with Breyten my home town, I was told to personally come and book on Thursday 3 May for June.
Carolina, next to Breyten, my Swazi guy who answered the call said " wota utobhalisa ngalosine for u-June. Kodwa i line ingangobaba" (meaning there is a long que of people).
Ermelo, the next town, the number is in valid! Nextdoor, Hendrina, the agent advised that they will open again in August! Bethal, there is no response. Phone rings endlessly.
Gauteng (Alberton, Kempton Park, Sandton, Bedfordview, Edenvale, Brakpan, Boksburg) I do not want to talk about my experience!
A manager here at work who overheard me trying to book a date said to me " I got my lincence in 1979, by then it was just easy. Now, even for marriage, days are all booked. Am supposed to be marrying my wife but Home affairs gave me a date last year November for May this year. What if I die?"
The e-natis system was hailed as the system where the rubber meets the road. This remain to be seen. From what I have heard and experienced with this system, I am very scared. I need a license soon and very soon!
Regards,
The One & Only.
Learners for a Bike
Hi there.
I'm at the end of my rope.
About two months ago I tried to get a booking for a learners for a Motor Bike.
Eventually I got the booking. Went to write and with my luck my temp ID was expired by two days.
They let me make the booking with the temp, and off coarse I never noticed this.
So I went to home affairs to check if the ID is finally available after 3 months.
It was not. Apparently they mail it off to a persons home during the day. WHEN THERE IS NO-ONE EVEN AT HOME! I mean come on. How many people just happen to be at home during the day.
So I finally got the ID two weeks later and I'm back at square
one.
Try to phone again with no luck.
I finally got through, made the booking went to pay the next day.
The queue outside the damn place (Wadeville) was nearly out the
freaking testing station.
I stood there for a whole day. The queue did not move at all.
I went there two more days in succession with no luck. Standing
outside wasting my time.
I have a job you know. Cant just take leave the whole time.
I have a code 8 for nearly 6 years now.
I know all the road signs and rules very well.
My question now is, Why the hell do I even have to write my learners
again.
The learners is exactly the same as the code 8 (B now I think)
Why cant I get a learners issued so that I can at least ride my
bike.
I understand that I have to pass the drivers for the motorbike as
this is completely different than a motorcar.
Hopefully government can sort themselves out. (I highly doubt that
this will ever happen)
I have also applied for my drivers card since this has expired. I
went to Boksburg to try and collect the card. No luck.
Its not ready yet. Meanwhile my temp is only valid for 6 months.
I can see that metro cops will have a field day with all the
"Traffic Offenders" that cannot be helped by our wonderful
government.
And when the cops are told what the reason is (And they bloody know
why) they simply say that its not their problem. No reasoning from
that government side.
We must just understand that this is the way it will be. Nice, just
bloody nice aint it.
So what the hell do I do now?
Freakin Frustrated
Licence crisis
Nkosasaza,
You know, today around 9.15am, I called the Gauteng line to book in the JHB area, the lady who answered took all my details to check a date for me.
A few minutes later she said, " The system indicates that you are booked for a learners licence code 10 on Monday 7 May. It's a system error" I was then put through to a Supervisor who would assist me. After much explaining, he checked for me and said " Apologies, there are no dates in the JHB area. I can put you on our waiting list. Keep in mind that you could wait for the next 3 months or you could call us daily." Well, what do I say now? I only want a booking for a drivers licence code 10 and not a learners!
You know, the government should be able to control technology to meet our expectations. Take for example the case of the banks torwards the year 2000. They made sure that customers were not affected as they prepared for the so called "millenum bug" The banks made it work! It still works and it will work in years to come! Their systems covers the whole country and some local banks have operations overseas and up in Africa. It a fact that their systems caters for millions of people more than the enatis system does.
In a nutshell, I am saying that the government should have adopted the same attitude towards this system. The banks were successful. Maybe the transport department should have used the same IT contractors that were used by the banks.
Good luck to you for your licence and your website rocks. Good work there!
You will hear more,
Mtwanawenkosi,
Concealed
Hello Priscilla
There seems to be so many problems and issues surrounding the
issuing of learners and drivers licences. what is been done to solve
this problem. I can tell you now that this new system that the
government wants to introduce looks very good, but its going to take
a lot of time to have it up and running. the government of
department of transport now have a very good system but they need to
slow down when implementing it so it does not fail.
They need to understand that coming up with a brilliant idea is the most simple thing that anyone can do, but implementing an idea takes a lot of hard work. I for one don't think that we have thought about the result of this plan enough. I good Idea can be destructive if not use accordingly or with caution
Just my thought
Julius Ramotse
Operations Manager
Malelane Traffic department.
Priscilla,
I am a lady in possession of a Learner’s License in Mpumalanga Malelane Traffic department. I have tried twice to book for my driving license and never succeeded. Reason being that they have a certain limit number of people that they can take in a day. I was told that people bring blankets and sleep there to be able to obtain the numbers first thing the next day. I am working thus camping the whole night is not an option for me to take. The 2 times that I failed to get a booking I had to sign for annual leave at wok.
The reason I wrote this email to you is to let you know that in our area corruption still exists because whilst I was told that booking is closed (yesterday) I still could see some people going in to get their eyes tested and they came out with receipts showing that they have paid and got testing dates whilst the “system was off” according to what the other traffic officer said. It seems to me that it depends on whose shoulder are you rubbing. This however can lead to people buying the licenses because going the right route is strenuous.
I am told that the next booking day is 1 June 2007 which still in this cold weather I do not think I will survive the camping.
Hope my plea will reach your consideration