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Licence Renewal Nightmare: South Africans Face Delays as Printing Machine Breaks Down Again
South Africans trying to renew their driving licences are facing growing frustration as the country’s sole driver’s licence card printing machine has reportedly stopped working—again.
According to a City Press report from 23 March 2025, insiders from the Department of Transport confirmed that the 26-year-old machine has been out of service since January. This latest breakdown is just one of 159 failures the machine has experienced over the years, leading to severe backlogs and growing concern among motorists.
A Western Cape resident told MyBroadband that their local Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLTC) hasn’t issued a single driving licence card applied for in 2025, highlighting the national scope of the problem.
A System on the Brink
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has acknowledged the issue, calling for enhanced maintenance and interim solutions. She confirmed that temporary licences are being issued to affected drivers, but admitted the machine is “very old” and maintenance alone may not be enough.
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has weighed in, calling the situation unacceptable and urging the department to extend the validity period of driving licences from five to ten years.
“This move would alleviate administrative burdens, reduce backlogs, and lower costs for both motorists and the government,” said Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage. He pointed out that many other countries already offer ten-year validity periods without compromising road safety.
Outa also noted that a ten-year validity period was actually gazetted back in 2013 but mysteriously withdrawn.
Legal Tangles and a Failing Tender
Further complicating matters, Minister Creecy recently initiated legal action to halt the award of a new licence card printing contract. The tender—worth R500 million and awarded to French firm Idemia—was flagged by the Auditor-General for violating supply chain regulations, the PFMA, and other public finance laws.
While Creecy’s legal team advised her to go ahead with the Idemia deal to avoid years-long legal delays, Outa strongly disagrees. “Proceeding with the Idemia contract despite the auditor general’s findings would be a serious governance failure,” said Duvenage.
Outa and other stakeholders are prepared to challenge any such decision in court.
Calls for Transparency and Urgent Reform
As frustration builds, Outa is demanding clarity on three key issues:
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Why the printing machine is still not operational despite maintenance contracts.
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Whether the Department will move forward with the flawed Idemia tender.
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What immediate and long-term solutions are being implemented to reduce backlogs.
“The public deserves transparency on the government’s plans to modernise the licensing system,” said Duvenage. “These matters can no longer be ignored.”
What It Means for Motorists
For now, South African drivers must brace for extended delays and reliance on temporary licences, with no concrete date for when the backlog will be cleared or new systems introduced.
Motorists are urged to renew early, keep temporary licences on hand, and stay updated on developments from the Department of Transport.
{Source BusinessTech}
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