Gerrie Gerneke. Credit Itumeleng English
People unable to register vehicles after licensing department in Johannesburg runs out of ink and toner cartridges for days.
IOL reported that the Roodepoort licensing department was unable to print official documents required for people to register their vehicles after it had failed to renew its contract with the company supplying its ink and toner cartridges, with people looking to apply for or renew vehicle licenses turned away for several days as a result.
The situation caused frustration among motorists unable to register their vehicles, with one woman commenting: “It is unbelievable that an organisation such as the huge Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department, in a big city such as Johannesburg, does not have cartridges or toners to print official documents […] if I don’t get my car registered within a few days I am going to be forced to go and get a new roadworthy certificate, which costs time and money.”
Another motorist said: “I’ve been turned away four times […] I am desperate as I have to register a new car. The staff inside are embarrassed but they say it is beyond their control.”
Director of Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department Gerrie Gerneke reportedly said that the situation was “beyond their control” as the contract with their ink and toner cartridge supplier had not been renewed; adding that a further problem is that “the Langlaagte testing station is being refurbished so people who would normally go there are now also going to Roodepoort”.
To temporarily resolve the issue, Gerneke said that the department would borrow printer cartridges from the Florida police station.