Driver’s Licence and ID Book in less than an hour
Thanks to SISIWAMi for her sweet story on a Friday afternoon:
A few weeks ago I was at a friend’s house party – during the night there were about 30 to 40 close friends that came and went… all good people. I kept my handbag close at hand, as you do…The party was good, lots of great conversation and tequila.
The only distraction from an otherwise tame and fab event was a t…
all blond woman who was completely out of control too early on – stumbling around the party in stilleto’s with her nose in the air – she was crass, self-obsessed and crude… She had a ‘DragQueen’ look about her and a drugged up vibe to her… But she gave us a few laughs. A dismal ab-fab one could say.
Anyway… so at about 1am we decide it’s time to go home and off we go. On the way we stop at a garage shop for some munchies and that’s when I realise that someone has gone into my handbag and stolen my wallet… I immediately phone the host, who last I saw had been throwing the drag-woman out as she had become obnoxious and irritating… it was his party after-all and he didn’t know her, she had come with someone else. He reiterated the first thoughts that had flown through my mind at the discovery of the theft, “that tall blond woman” although he used a more expressive expletive for her… Now I know it’s not fair to accuse anyone or point fingers, but there was a series of coincidences that made us think it could only have been her…for example the empty wallet was found close to where she had been standing (or should i say stumbling) just before she was chucked out… and there were various other important clues…
I didn’t have much Inside the wallet except for about R200 and a whole lot of slips for things I had bought… and… MY DRIVER’S LICENCE. It is unbelievable what anxiety and dread the loss of your driver’s licence can bring on. Everytime I think about going to get a new one I get this awful feeling in my stomach. The fact is that you can only go for so long on back routes and ask friends to drive you around (often recklessly) until you actually have to face up to the dreaded Traffic Department and go and get a new one.
I had also lost my ID book a few months before (see how long I can prolong official things for) and decided to book off a morning and go balls to the wall and klap both challenges at once…”madness” I hear you uttering.
A friend of mine had mentioned that her experience at Randburg Home Affairs had been suprisingly pleasant, so instead or my usual trek into the hectic city centre, I decided to head to Randburg.
Randburg is one of those strange suburbs where you think you should feel nervous but then you don’t really… it’s just very busy and humming… I start with the Traffic Department:
10:05
Park car, friendly young guy flashes ID photo’s at me, i follow him and climb into a mobile photo studio – a white VW combi (yes the hippy one) that belongs to a suave Rasta who takes your pic with a “jah man”. R35, four photo’s and two minutes later I am out of there.
10:10
I stroll towards the building and walk through some sliding doors, a courteous guard points upstairs to the first floor. I walk up there and follow the well-marked signs to room 222. Outside room 222 there is further signage with clear instructions as to exactly what forms you need to fill in / what you need to pay / where you need to go / when / in order to get your new driver’s. I walk into the room, five people sit on comfortable chairs in a cool lull chatting amongst themselves. There are two desks, one with a friendly young guy who tests your eyes and the second with a young woman taking fingerprints and collating your documents.
10:13
I sit down on the sixth chair, filling my form in. In my bag I have my IPOD, a newspaper, biltong, water, chewing gum and a novel – all to bide my time during this lengthy and painful task. Within a few minutes I have already moved my touche three seats and there is only one person left before me. I quickly complete my form.
10:20
I go to the cashiers window in the next room and a fast-working young woman does the money deal, gives me a temporary driving licence and a form to collect my new one and with a smile bids me farewell.
10:22
I wave to the Rasta who is now out of his combi punting his business to new arrivals, jump in my car and cruise off, a huge grin on my face.
10:25
As I drive towards Hans Strijdom the grin begins to fade as I realise that it’s too good to be true and that Home Affairs will give me time to devour all my snacks and read at least the first chapter of my book as well as the newspaper.
10:33
Arrive at Home Affairs, a voluptuous young woman welcomes me “Hello Sisi I will look after you car… do you need any help? Do you need a passport or ID Book urgently?” No thanks Ma, I smile, following her hand that waves in the direction of a very depressing bereaucratic looking building. I walk past an informal trader -a white guy with his Indian business partner selling loose, chips and popcorn. My heart warms.
10:35
I walk into the room and there is one person in front of me at the Information window. They move off, I speak to the friendly official who gives me two forms to fill in and tells me to go to counter two or three. i look over towards counters 2 and 3 and there is only one woman standing at counter three. I am back in luck.
10:40
Having filled in my forms I stand up from my chair and take the one step to the counter. “Hello my Sweetie, Unjani” greets the ‘Homer’ in her Home Affairs t-shirt, “what can i help you with?”
10:45
Forms are in. Fingers are held and blackened and pressed onto my form. Form is collected. I look around me wondering what next… and then I realise… that’s it.
40 mins for Driver’s and ID> that has to be a record.
So the moral of the story is next time a drugged up blond steals your driver’s licence, thank her for renewing your faith in the system.
Oh ja – and don’t tell too many people about this ‘coz Randburg is our secret.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE SA HOME AFFAIRS WEBSITE.
