Due to strike I must redo application and pay

I made a booking for my son to do his learners for the car and motorbike licence.<br> He was supposed to write on the 21 December 2015.<br> The licence department started striking on the 14th December 2015.<br> I phone continually trying to find out what is happening regarding the strike.<br> No one answered the phones because of the strike.<br> Eventual after phoning all licencing department all over I got through to Rooderport and they said <br> They can't tell me when the strike will end.<br> But I must come back in January and they will postpone his exam and move it to a later date.<br> When I returned to the licencing department today 14th Jan 2016 they said I must reapply and pay again.<br> Because the strike finished on the 19th.<br> That is totally ridicules First of all how must I know when the strike will end they don't even know.<br> Then I was told to come back in Jan 2016.<br> Why did they not notify the people they had all the information?<br> We live in a sick country.<br>