Centurion, Gauteng - Very little has been done to mitigate long queues and related frustrations at the Centurion Licensing Centre.
Gauteng MEC for roads and transport Dr Ismail Vadi visited the centre unannounced on Thursday and said the reports of queues - which had some people waiting for five hours and longer - were true.
The visit was prompted by complaints about long queues and customer dissatisfaction with poor levels of service at the centre.
Vadi interacted with members of the public and addressed some of the issues affecting service delivery.
The queues and subsequent slow pace of service delivery at the centre were unacceptable, he said.
When the MEC arrived at the centre, it was functioning with a staff contingent of 40 percent, which contributed to the long queues with most customers having waited in the queue for four to five hours.
An inspection of various sections in the centre showed the eye test and fingerprint departments were a major problem, Vadi said.
“I did an inspection of the car licence and collections sections and everything was operating perfectly,” said the MEC. “However, in the driver’s licence division there were major problems at live capturing units stations which most clients had to go through for an eye test, resulting in the long queues and unacceptable poor service delivery.
CRITICAL STAFF SHORTAGE
“There are at least nine cubicles, “ he said. The equipment is there and in good working condition, but there was a critical shortage of staff at the centre. This was causing major delays.
“Management has also failed to initiate investigations to ascertain what was causing the long queues.”
Vadi said a senior official had been on leave since December and thereafter took study leave; this should not have been allowed at such a crucial time, he added .
Centre management acknowledged the challenges and assured the MEC that concerns raised would be attended to as a matter of urgency. As part of the interventions, five new employees would be starting work at the centre on Friday.
The situation at the centre would be monitored from time to time and measures taken to rectify it, Vadi said. Chief among his concerns were lack of proper management structure and the communication breakdown between the centre’s officials and the public.
“What is quite clear is that there’s a complete breakdown in management at this centre. The staff shortage compounds that problem.
“This is an unacceptable situation and will require an intervention,” MEC said.
Pretoria News