By Libuseng Nyaka
QWA QWA – Making an appointment to be tested for drivers at Nelson Mandela Park testing station in Phuthaditjhaba licencing offices is hassle.
Prospective examinees are forced to sleep in the queue just to get a date to undergo a test while some have to wake up as early as 3 am to join the queue.
Ntebaleng Mokoena, an employee at Maluti A Phofung (MAP) asked for a day off to take the test.
“I did not want to waste this day so I came as early as 3 am so that I would be among the first group to be booked for a driver’s licence test. When I arrived here some people were already on the queue,” she said.
“They had spent the night here. But we were only told that we were not going to be assisted as station only test 12 people for code and two for code eight.
“What makes it even worse was that bookings for this year were closed sometime ago meaning we would be tested next year,” Mokoena told Public Eye in an Interview on Monday, October 8.
Puleng Thekiso was also in the queue when she was turned away after spending the whole night at the testing station.
“I came here yesterday at around 7pm only to be told that we are not going to be booked for testing. It is very suspicious because during the week I had been coming here and I saw some people managed to make appointments for their driver’s tests. After they told us to go I did not leave hoping that there might be something,” Thekiso said.
Another man who was also on the queue who preferred anonymity said the traffic officer even threatened to beat up people on the queue if they refused to leave.
“I do not know what to do now. I was looking forward to making my booking today but this day had been a complete waste. I think I will have to go to Bethlehem. Maybe booking are still open” Mamoleboheng Moekete said.
But the 44 people who had refused to budge were lucky after Public Eye approached the management at the station as they were given an opportunity to book for their drivers’ licences test.
The two senior officers in charge at the station said they acted according to directives from Dawis Snoer who is based in Bethlehem.
The Principal traffic inspector Fikile Molefi confirmed that when they left the station the night before people were already there waiting to book for an appointment the following day. “It would be unfair to assist these people after we have dismissed others. Some have already left, helping others after we dismissed some would be not good,” said principal Lephoka in response to complaints from the public.
The congestion has resulted from the closure of the testing station at Harrismith while Kerstel only testsCode8 drivers.