Service at its worst

A FRIENDLY warning to all applications for the new ID card.

Mtubatuba Home Affairs is the only office in Zululand able to process the application.

Just over a week ago I went to Home Affairs (HA) to apply for my new ID card. The staff were polite, knowledgeable and extremely efficient.

They spoke excellent English and obviously knew their jobs. The whole process was completed with a minimum of fuss and in double quick time.

This morning 4 March I arrived at the HA office at 7.30am (opening time) to collect my new card. Doors only opened at 7.38 am.

I walked into an office that was half empty of staff and none of the computers had been switched on.

I waited until the computers had been fired up (an extremely slow process) and then was allocated number 2 in the queue for collections.

Most of the staff started sauntering in, in drips and drabs until about 8.15am and were all totally new faces to me except for one person who was behind his desk and processing his tasks efficiently.

I recognised him from my previous visit and he was excelling in his job!

The supervisor was an extremely loud-mouthed ‘lady’ who was telling all and sundry to leave her alone and go away.

The computer refused to read my prints when my turn came and I was kicked out of the queue and had to be allocated another number!

This computer was giving problems so the supervisor took over. I was then allocated number 20.

Number 19 was called and processed and then number 34 – this happened three times!

The last re allocation I had was number 45.

The computer had supposedly thrown out all the numbers in between – surprise!

The computer refused to read my prints once more.

I chance being called racist when I say that all the people that had one or other problem with their applications were ‘white’.

I now have to go back on another day! And before you ask – I was extremely polite and civil throughout the whole process until I had been there for more than four hours and told to come back!

Needless to say I literally then threw my panties out the window! I am happy to keep my old ID book!

TERESA BRANKEN