Renewing a Driver’s License at Gallows Hill, Green Point

Overall my experience was not as dire as I am sure we have all come to expect from South African bureaucracies. That is not to say that I could not instantly point out any number of inefficiencies in the incumbent system, but I think I am mostly grateful that I managed to spend under an hour in the rather depressing building that is Gallows Hill Traffic Department in Green Point, Cape Town.

I arrived just before 8am this morning and joined a rather short queue, which – for a change – everyone seemed to understand the concept of. The doors opened shortly after 8am and I was directed to the Enquiries counter to my left by a scarily efficient security guard who failed to hear my objections…

You see, I normally do a fair amount of research before doing anything. With the Web at my beck and call, I usually like to have all my answers up front to mitigate any unpleasant surprises. In this case, I had consulted the City of Cape Town’s relatively new Driving and Vehicle Licensing website and deduced from the application procedure that, because my license was still valid, I would need only three ID sized photos and R110, (as opposed to the additional four photos and R45 you will need for a temporary license if your license has already expired).

And, even though you cannot apply for a license renewal online (what ever happened to e-government?), I was pleasantly surprised to find a downloadable PDF version of the application. I chuckled quietly to myself, planning to fill the form out at home and then skip gingerly past the simple folk as they begged for pens, filled in forms on stranger’s backs, and watched me in awe as I paraded past with my already-completed form. Alas, my plans were thwarted, and as I waved my completed application at the aforementioned security guard, she quickly swept my objections aside and insisted that I would have to start from scratch on the green form I could obtain by standing in the queue at Enquiries. What then is the point of making the form available online?!

So, miserably accepting my place amongst the ‘simple folk’, I went to obtain my green form, and it was at this point that the first of my photos was requested… and rejected. “I can’t be that hideous? Surely not?”, I thought to myself. Actually, it had more to do with my photos being in colour. Absurd right? Especially seeing that the application procedure again states that photos should “preferably” be black and white, not “must be black and white”! I still had spare passport photos left over from my recent passport application (which were accepted) and did not want to fork out the (ludicrous) 40 odd Rand for additional photos. But no… Black and white they must be. Why do they not just state this as mandatory then?

Cleverly (and luckily for me), someone has set up a small photographic studio directly across the street from Gallows Hill in their garage and this is where I promptly went and bled out another R42 for four black and white photographs. Returning to the same queue, I went to redeem my partially started green form and ID, and was directed to fill in the relevant sections (A, C and D) before proceeding across the building to Room 14.

Room 14’s experience was relatively painless. I first found a table in a corner and (re-)completed the form with the black pen I had luckily brought with me before I rattled off the location of the checkered block (“Top, Left, Right, Right, Left, Bottom, Top …”) for the eye test while the official seemed somewhat distracted; I’m not even sure he actually listened to my answers. I then had to present the second and third photos, sign twice, and imprint both thumbs before being directed to the front to submit my application and pay.

Overall it was not so bad, I guess. I have my gripes with the obviously flawed application procedure on the City of Cape Town’s website, but I must give props to the staff of Gallows Hill who were, for the most part, very friendly.

Here is a quick recap of what you will need if you are renewing you license (in the near future):

1. 3 BLACK and WHITE ID-size photographs (7 if your license has already expired)
2. R110 (+ R45 for a temporary license, again only if your license has already expired)
3. Your ID Book or valid Passport
4. Good humour

I would also recommend going first thing in the morning on a weekday. They are open 8am to 3.30pm Monday through Friday and from 8am to 10am on Saturdays, but I have heard of long waits during lunchtimes and on Saturdays.

Please add your experiences and suggestions in the comments below.