DOL registered person woes

[Andrew_van_Zyl]

Anyone entering into this industry needs to become a registered person at the Department of Labour.

This is all well and good if the system actually worked.

I handed in my brand new EWSETA certification and recommendation letter from the EWSETA training provider at the Francis Baard St. DOL offices in Pretoria on 10 August 2022.

I took a pic of my entry into their register.

Two months later, after not hearing from them, I visited the offices to inquire if had been registered. I rummaged through their box to no avail. I called the cell number scribbled on a piece of paper stuck to the wall. I was told there is a backlog due to all the applications. I visited the offices 2 more times and called the same number only to be told that August 2022 applications would only be ready end January 2023.

I called again (learned not to visit the offices) and told my application would only be ready end February.

I emailed the Minister of Labour's personal assistant - info on their website. No response.

In desperation I emailed everyone with an email address on their website telling them I was unable to work for 5 months (going on 6) and would sue the minister for loss of earnings and other damages. To my surprise I received a mail from the Chief of Staff and had a mail and call from Pieter Laubscher - Specialist Inspector for Electrical Engineering to tell me my application was incomplete - EWSETA and training provider letter missing.

Long story short - my training provider sent me copies of the originals and I sent these on to Pieter. He now confirms he has everything and my ticket will be ready in 3 - 4 weeks.

I wonder what happened to my original application - they had my application but lost by supporting docs. I wonder at how one has to threaten legal action before anything happens. In theory I was working illegally - had it not been for my IE mentor who signed off on my work I would have been screwed.

I'm writing this to alert anyone along the same journey. Be prepared to fight.