The letter from Bushy van Eck on time wasting at the bank opened an old wound for me. Many years ago I was working in Johannesburg city centre. I bought a car privately and took it home to Randburg.
Went to work the next day thinking about popping down to the traffic office in Loveday street to get a temporary permit to move the car to a place of repair, to get a new engine fitted. Never having undertaken such a mission before, I set out full of enthusiasm.
"No sir you need to register the vehicle before a temporary permit can be issued."
"OK so this whole thing is all computerised let's do it now."
"No, you live in Randburg and the vehicle must be registered in the town in which you live."
"But it's all computerised, surely..."
"No, you have to go to Randburg."
So off to Randburg.
"Would like to register this car and get a temporary permit, please."
"OK, hmmm, hmmm, sorry you need a GST certificate (for R4) before registration can be completed."
"Where can I pay that?"
"At the receiver of revenue in Johannesburg."
Blood pressure on the ascent now, big time. Go back to Johannesburg to the ROR, lunchtime, and wait for thirty minutes, doors open and in we go.
"I need a GST certificate, please."
"OK, fill in this form."
Crash away for 10 minutes wondering what all this information is for, it's R4 for crying out loud. Go back and hand in the form.
"That will be R4."
Go for my wallet, hand over the loot, and...
"Sorry we don't take cash after lunch."
OK, so out comes the cheque book.
"There is a 14 day delay for clearance of the cheque and then you can collect the GST certificate."
Off we go, back to Randburg, have a bit of sleep and back to Johannesburg the next day. Go pay the GST, go back to Randburg, do the stuff, get my permit, "valid for three days", take the car to the place of repair only to be informed the repair will take ten days and so will need to get another permit to take it for roadworthy. Sigh.
Everything is done, and head off to the Randburg testing station. Get the long wait.
"Sorry, you need a weighbridge certificate before the roadworthy inspection can be done."
"OK so where is the weighbridge?"
"At the Johannesburg testing station in Langlaagte on the west of Johannesburg."
Off we go back to Johannesburg, back to Randburg testing station, and back to the licencing office to get the licence disc (testing station and license office are about eight kilometres apart. Right then. All done.
That night the finger pointing president or "groot krokodill" came on TV and gave a speech about how we should all "improve productivity".
I broke stuff that night. That's where the wounds come from.
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Disclaimer: All articles and letters published on MyNews24 have been independently written by members of News24's community. The views of users published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.