*********** senior staff

<p> </p> <p>On the 26th of July 2017 my husband and I went to the Department of home affairs in Pietermaritzburg to renew my passport and apply for my ID card. The lady at reception and the cashier were fast, friendly and helpful. However we soon met a completely *********** consultant who completely ruined my impression of this department and his superiors were just as bad if not worse. I clearly stated to him that I wished to retain my ****en surname before he even began processing either application. he then told me that I needed to first complete my application with him and then go up to the 2nd floor and apply to have my surname retained...and it would then process under my ****en name on the system. I repeatedmy asked him if he was certain of the process or if he could verify with a senior...he then looked around and just continued processing it. I still refused to sign until he made certain and he assured me that this was the process. I then went upstairs to apply yo retain my surname and was told by a lady there that I should have app**** to retain my surname first before I app**** downstairs for the passport and ID. I related to her that I had followed a process advised to me by the consultant. I then tried to speak to the office manager and she was arrogant and totally uninterested in the fact that th3 problem arose from the incompetence of the staff member and she tried relentlessly to pin the blame on me. She told me I HAD to have my husband's surname and that I don't have a choice. she also told me that unless I was a Dr or a celebrity I could not retain my ****en name. She said I should just accept it as it comes and then come back with a letter to support why I wanted my ****en name and that all married woman in South Africa have to take theirs husband's surname. This is against my human rights and my rights as a woman! she then called the DIRECTOR of home affairs and he also needed all kinds of irrelevant information from us about why I wanted to retain my surname when the issue at hand was the fact that we were In the situation due to the incompetence of his staff member! He then said we may need to reapply in a few months as it will already be processed in my husband's surname. And when my husband asked him about the fact that we had spent alot of money on this already and now due to the incompetence of the staff memeber...we were expected to come back and re apply...the DIRECTOR then asked if this was an issue of money now!!! he ended by promising to call us the next day with "good news" or "bad news".......still no call. I am angered and shocked by this behaviour by senior staff. To not even try to fix their pathetic mistakes and furthermore to deny my rights as a woman in a country that speaks of equality! </p>