Hell On Earth

 

Heard the one about the South African who died shortly after getting his new ID document?

"Go right in", says the angel at the Pearly Gates. "You've been to Home Affairs. You've had your share of hell."

Another interesting statistic from our caring government:

'Minister of Public Service and Administration Senzo Mchunu revealed that of the 9 477 senior managers listed on the Personal and Salary System, 3 301 do not have the required qualifications.' 

I pointed out to a friend that this may explain his interesting experience at the hands of the ever - charming, ever - innovative Department Of Home Affairs.  He was strangely unimpressed.

He needed to renew documents. Visit one: the cameras were not working. That should not be a surprise. I suspect that in several centres the staff may not be working. The camera problem was communicated after a suitable waiting period of one and a half hours. Not bad.  

Visit two: between five am and twelve noon, in a different town,  the system struggled on and off like a mini - Eskom. 

Visit three: the experience is ramped up. After a full day's exciting wait, my friend learns that the national system has gone walkabout.

A mangled quote from Julius (no, don't be silly), Caesar; not the other one:

How many times shall this our lofty farce be acted o'er

In other states

And towns yet unknown (what with name changes)?

My friend spotted a head office group and blurted out: "This is hell on earth". A bit exaggerated, I think. Hell can't be this bad, surely. Still, not a bad epitaph for our civil service.