Irate drivers 'won't vote again'
2003-02-28 13:25
Pretoria - Some of the approximately 7 000 drivers queuing in central Pretoria to convert their drivers licences to the new card format were so disgusted with their plight on Friday that they undertook never to vote again.
"I will not vote, and that goes for my entire family. If my wife votes, I will divorce her," said Charles Mnisi, 35.
"When we voted for the first time for this government, they came to our schools, our homes, even to the bushes to get our IDs. Now they open only one office for all these people."
His views were echoed by 34-year-old Thomas Ngobeni who said: "This really sucks. They can forget about my vote."
Ngobeni said he had been standing in line since Thursday afternoon, and grumbled about the fact that the queue was moving "not even a step every two hours".
Mnisi, who said he had been queuing since 14:00 on Wednesday at the Andries Street licensing office, viewed the situation as a violation of his constitutional right to dignity.
He complained about the "squashing", as well as a lack of drinking water and toilets. Bystanders said two people fainted on Friday morning.
Mnisi had another objection: "How do they expect a person who has not slept for so long to see properly when they test his eyes?"
Metro police official Emmanuel Mkhabela, overhearing these complaints, asked to say one thing: "Short and sweet - they have had five years."
All of the drivers interviewed by Sapa admitted they had plenty of time for the licence conversion. Among other things, they blamed human nature, pure sloppiness, time constraints, and lack of money.
"I don't work, and I didn't have the money until now," said 49-year-old Mamelodi resident Hlengani Mashaba. "And I can tell you there are many others at home who still cannot afford it."
Tshwane residents had to pay R122 for the conversion, R34 for a temporary licence, and the cost of three photographs.
If he failed to reach the front of the queue by the midnight deadline for licence conversions, he would not be able to pay any fines for driving with the old document, Mashaba said.
"They had better take me to jail."
Most of the drivers queuing around nearly an entire city block complained about the slow pace of processing.
"I know I have only myself to blame for being here, but they could at least have made some arrangements to speed up the process," said Riette Kessell, who arrived at 03:00.
Many also complained about crowd control, saying people were jumping the queue.
One man, Cornelius Steyn, 28, had been standing in line since Thursday afternoon for his boss, who he would phone as soon as he got to the front.
"We are just so busy at work (a radiator business) that he can't get away. I am really very tired, and the line is moving at a snail's pace. But I am sure my boss appreciates it."
Most said they would have no choice but to continue driving if they failed to make it to the front of the line by midnight.
Flip Verster, 58, said he would contest any fines in court.
"I have had my licence since 1966. I have never had an accident, have never been accused of drunk or negligent driving. Now they want to tell me this licence is not valid any more?"
Dirk Jonker, 31, proposed that instead of declaring the old licence invalid, fines be imposed on late applicants for conversions. He and Verster were standing close to the back of the queue.
"I won't have a choice not to drive," Jonker said. "I have to get to work. But if I see a speed trap, I'll let my wife drive. She has her new licence already."
One metro police official keeping an eye on the crowd said he doubted whether everyone could be help by the deadline, and expressed concern about growing agitation.
- SAPA