MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) - “Your hair is too big,” a customer was told at the license department of the Makhado Municipality. “We cannot accept your ID photo.”

Charmaine Gibson from Waterpoort was knocked over for a six.

“I did not know whether I should laugh or throw up. I told the guy that this is the way my hair is. It curls naturally, especially in rainy weather.”

Charmaine eventually had her hair cut to make it “smaller” and had to take another set of ID photos. The whole trip was becoming quite expensive. Charmaine only wanted to apply for a new driver’s license since hers was soon to expire after five years.

“You know, they actually told another guy that his chin was too big,” Charmaine said. One could only wonder whether the official expected him to go for plastic surgery.

When Charmaine was taking a new set of photos, she learnt to her surprise that she was not the first customer to return for another set of ID photos because of similar complaints. She couldn’t help but wonder what the official would say to people with Afro or Rastafarian hairstyles.

There was no sign or notice at the relevant department, indicating the specifications of the ID photos.

“For that matter, I first stood in a long queue and got to the front only to be told that I should have a copy of my ID and license. I saw no notice indicating what I should have with me,” Charmaine said. After getting photocopies, she had to queue again only to learn after her eye test that her “hair is too big.”

“This is ridiculous,” Charmaine said, but managed to see the humour in the remark.

On request, the Makhado Municipality’s Mr Thomas Ndwammbi, Manager Protection Services, supplied all the specifications for driving license photos. When asked why notices in this regard were not put up, Mr Ndwammbi replied that it was a national issue and that they follow guidelines from the Department of Transport.

Some of the specifications and conditions for the new driving license photos as printed by Studio Polaroid are:

* The dimensions of the photograph must be 32mm width x 40mm height.

* The height of the head, measured from the chin to the top of the head, must be between 22mm (minimum) and 30mm (maximum). Make sure that the hair is at least 7mm from the top of the photograph.

* The head must be in the centre of the photograph. The head (including hair) must be at least 5mm from any of the edges of the photograph.

* The photograph can be black and white or colour.

* The only acceptable background is plain neutral grey.

* The photograph should not be overexposed (too light) or underexposed (too dark).