Help - lost my UK driving licence
Nov 24th 2010, 4:17 pm
#16
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2010
Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Posts: 9
Re: Help - lost my UK driving licence
Hi Ed,
Please post if your contact has heard anything. I need to send my licence back to update the photo as well just to add to the mess.
Jane
Please post if your contact has heard anything. I need to send my licence back to update the photo as well just to add to the mess.
Jane
Nov 24th 2010, 4:32 pm
#17
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Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Home, I think.
Posts: 9,217
Re: Help - lost my UK driving licence
Will do Jane - don't hold your breath. I emailed them right now - someone called Thabo Tsholetsane - who is the Senior Executive Manager at the RTMC. Will keep you posted.
Nov 25th 2010, 7:28 am
#18
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Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Home, I think.
Posts: 9,217
Re: Help - lost my UK driving licence
So - as mentioned yesterday I emailed again. Got this reply this morning (and a voicemail)....Amazing. Will end in tears I'm sure, but a sign of life....
Goodday!
It would be appreciated if you can set-up a meeting with my PA Esther at the contact details below, furthermore bring along all the documentation regarding the matter.
Regards
John Motsatsing
Department of Transport
Goodday!
It would be appreciated if you can set-up a meeting with my PA Esther at the contact details below, furthermore bring along all the documentation regarding the matter.
Regards
John Motsatsing
Department of Transport
Nov 25th 2010, 8:16 am
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 20,821
Re: Help - lost my UK driving licence
Ok. Well maybe not. 
Eish!
"There's life Jim, but not as we know it."
So - as mentioned yesterday I emailed again. Got this reply this morning (and a voicemail)....Amazing. Will end in tears I'm sure, but a sign of life....
Goodday!
It would be appreciated if you can set-up a meeting with my PA Esther at the contact details below, furthermore bring along all the documentation regarding the matter.
Regards
John Motsatsing
Department of Transport
Goodday!
It would be appreciated if you can set-up a meeting with my PA Esther at the contact details below, furthermore bring along all the documentation regarding the matter.
Regards
John Motsatsing
Department of Transport
"There's life Jim, but not as we know it."
Nov 25th 2010, 10:02 am
#20
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2010
Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Posts: 9
Re: Help - lost my UK driving licence
Does this mean the 4 years is true do you reckon as it sounds it? I'd better run to the embassy and get a letter I think.
Jane
Jane
Nov 25th 2010, 12:20 pm
#21
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Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Home, I think.
Posts: 9,217
Re: Help - lost my UK driving licence
If you should loudly enough you'll eventually be heard.
Seems to work for some on BE too.
Nov 25th 2010, 12:50 pm
#22
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2010
Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Posts: 9
Re: Help - lost my UK driving licence
Thanks. I'll also keep shouting. Let us all know how your meeting turns out.
Thanks.
Jane
Thanks.
Jane
Dec 8th 2010, 8:14 am
#23
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Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Home, I think.
Posts: 9,217
Re: Help - lost my UK driving licence
Righty ho - had my meeting with the Director at the Department of Transport this morning.
A very nice chap - heard my long sad story and just shook his head. He couldn't believe the hoops you have to jump through to get this sorted and was very apologetic (a first for a government official?).
He confirmed that only last week he has had the law changed to increase the time limit for licence conversions to 5 years from the date of your initial application for residency - this is very good news! He even showed me the gazette with his and JZ's signatures on it.
I have been asked to go back to Langlaagte (gulp) and resubmit my documents - but this time he has promised to get me a name for someone to go and see there, and a written instruction to provide the conversion for me. He has also told me to call him on his mobile if I encounter any resistance.
The cynic in me tells me that this seems to good to be true, but I will go back in the next couple of weeks and see.
A very nice chap - heard my long sad story and just shook his head. He couldn't believe the hoops you have to jump through to get this sorted and was very apologetic (a first for a government official?).
He confirmed that only last week he has had the law changed to increase the time limit for licence conversions to 5 years from the date of your initial application for residency - this is very good news! He even showed me the gazette with his and JZ's signatures on it.
I have been asked to go back to Langlaagte (gulp) and resubmit my documents - but this time he has promised to get me a name for someone to go and see there, and a written instruction to provide the conversion for me. He has also told me to call him on his mobile if I encounter any resistance.
The cynic in me tells me that this seems to good to be true, but I will go back in the next couple of weeks and see.
Dec 8th 2010, 8:20 am
#24
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 20,821
Re: Help - lost my UK driving licence
Righty ho - had my meeting with the Director at the Department of Transport this morning.
A very nice chap - heard my long sad story and just shook his head. He couldn't believe the hoops you have to jump through to get this sorted and was very apologetic (a first for a government official?).
He confirmed that only last week he has had the law changed to increase the time limit for licence conversions to 5 years from the date of your initial application for residency - this is very good news! He even showed me the gazette with his and JZ's signatures on it.
I have been asked to go back to Langlaagte (gulp) and resubmit my documents - but this time he has promised to get me a name for someone to go and see there, and a written instruction to provide the conversion for me. He has also told me to call him on his mobile if I encounter any resistance.
The cynic in me tells me that this seems to good to be true, but I will go back in the next couple of weeks and see.
A very nice chap - heard my long sad story and just shook his head. He couldn't believe the hoops you have to jump through to get this sorted and was very apologetic (a first for a government official?).
He confirmed that only last week he has had the law changed to increase the time limit for licence conversions to 5 years from the date of your initial application for residency - this is very good news! He even showed me the gazette with his and JZ's signatures on it.
I have been asked to go back to Langlaagte (gulp) and resubmit my documents - but this time he has promised to get me a name for someone to go and see there, and a written instruction to provide the conversion for me. He has also told me to call him on his mobile if I encounter any resistance.
The cynic in me tells me that this seems to good to be true, but I will go back in the next couple of weeks and see.
Langlaagte
Dec 8th 2010, 7:48 pm
#25
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2010
Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Posts: 9
Re: Help - lost my UK driving licence
This sounds like good news!
Tomorrow I'll try going to the High Commission to get a letter and as I finish at work on Friday I'll go along to Centurion next week and see if I get any joy.
I think we all had better keep our fingers crossed though. Will let you know what happens.
Thanks
Jane
Tomorrow I'll try going to the High Commission to get a letter and as I finish at work on Friday I'll go along to Centurion next week and see if I get any joy.
I think we all had better keep our fingers crossed though. Will let you know what happens.
Thanks
Jane
Dec 9th 2010, 3:34 am
#26
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Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Home, I think.
Posts: 9,217
Re: Help - lost my UK driving licence
Thanks Jane - I know one of the stipulations is that your letter from the high commission which validates your UK licence has to be less than 3 months old - which means I need to get a new one (mine is from May 2007 when all this started!). When you go, please confirm the cost (if any) and how long it takes.
Dec 9th 2010, 4:42 am
#27
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2010
Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Posts: 9
Re: Help - lost my UK driving licence
Will do Ed. I'm planning on dropping in on my way home tonight if I can get away early enough! I was told R190 when I enquired in August but I will check. Jane
Dec 9th 2010, 7:29 pm
#28
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2010
Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Posts: 9
Re: Help - lost my UK driving licence
Thanks Jane - I know one of the stipulations is that your letter from the high commission which validates your UK licence has to be less than 3 months old - which means I need to get a new one (mine is from May 2007 when all this started!). When you go, please confirm the cost (if any) and how long it takes.
Here is the answer that I got from the high commission.
Thank you for your enquiry. You can submit your request by post, courier or in person at the Consulate in Hatfield (Glyn Street, off Schoeman Street). Full addresses and counter hours can be found at
http://ukinsouthafrica.fco.gov.uk/en.../south-africa/
We will require:
A letter requesting the service (if not in person)
Both original parts of your UK driving licence (card and paper counterpart*)
A certified copy of photo ID (e.g. SA ID, UK passport)
2 x passport photos
Payment of R 556 (bank issued cheque to 'British High Commission' or completed credit card form [attached for postal/courier applications])
If submitting by post, you should also pay for return registered post (add R 116 to the cheque amount or tick the postage box on the credit card form)
*If you have the old style paper-only licence we do not require a card licence
Please note that in most cases the letter we provide is sufficient for the SA Traffic Department. Occasionally they may then request confirmation of codes on the licence, which we cannot give. In such instances you will need to request certificate D737 from the DVLA in Swansea ([email protected]).
I now need to send my licence back to the UK to update my photo unfortunately!
Jane
