Drivers Licence Conversion (Cape Town)

Hi there, can anyone help. I am a resident in SA and have been since Feb Protected content , yesterday I went to convert my UK licence (valid until Protected content was told that I had missed the conversion deadline. I took the date from when my SA ID was issued Nov Protected content , and not the date in my passport as per my residency stamp Feb Protected content . So today I headed to the traffic department, to be told that I have to sit my learners, then a driving test! When I have been driving and have a valid uk licence for the best part of 25 years. Is anyone out there experiencing the same issue? Thanks