KEETMANSHOOP residents are complaining about "long, slow-moving queues" at the local National Traffic Information System (NaTIS) office which is administered by the town's municipality.

Frustrated complainants say they have to wait for hours to be served, as there is only one staff member.

To make matters worse, only the first five people in the queue when the office opens for business are taken for driver's licence tests, which are conducted on Tuesdays and Thursdays only.

"If you phone at 07h27 to make a booking, you're told the bookings are full," one resident fumed.

"If you call to make a booking, the phone on the other side (NaTis office) just rings without answer," another resident said.

The first-come-first-service rule also applies to roadworthiness testing on Wednesdays and Fridays.

People have to queue from the early hours to be among the first ten to have their vehicles tested for roadworthiness.

"Why does the Keetmanshoop office only accommodate 10 people for vehicle roadworthy and driver's licence testing? Is it a national rule?" one resident wanted to know.

The municipal chief traffic officer, Wimpy Losper, yesterday blamed a lack of staff for the slow service.

"The testing examiners can take more people for vehicle roadworthiness and driver's licence testing, but this can only happen if the two vacant licensing officers' positions are filled," said Losper.

The only staff member deployed at the office, Annemarie Bosman, said she alone cannot perform all the duties because of the heavy workload.

"It's like a madhouse," Bosman described her working conditions.