More Delays for South Africans Needing New Driving Licence Cards

South African drivers are facing continued delays in obtaining new driving licence cards due to government procurement issues, leaving motorists frustrated and stuck with an outdated system. The plan to introduce modern, smart driving licence cards has hit yet another roadblock, with the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA) concluding its investigation into the troubled tender process.

The Department of Transport (DoT) is currently reviewing the findings, but whether the process is restarted or continued, further delays are expected. Meanwhile, alternative solutions such as extending the validity of licence cards or introducing digital licences remain off the table.

Why Is There a Delay in New Driving Licence Cards?

For decades, South Africa has relied on a single, outdated machine to print driving licence cards, leading to slow processing times, frequent breakdowns, and massive backlogs.

• The machine has broken down 159 times, causing long delays.
• South Africa’s licence renewal backlog reached 1.3 million between 2022 and 2023.
• The plan to phase out the old cards and introduce new, more secure ones was meant to take effect on 31 March 2024.

However, the procurement process for three new card printers stalled due to allegations of irregularities, prompting Transport Minister Barbara Creecy to call for an AGSA investigation.

Now that the Auditor General’s report is complete, the DoT faces a tough decision:

• Restart the procurement process—causing further delays.
• Proceed with the existing tender—which could result in legal challenges from civil action groups like Outa.

Regardless of the outcome, South Africans waiting for new licence cards will have to wait even longer.

Rejected Solutions: Licence Validity Extension

While new printers could speed up processing times, another proposed solution was to extend the validity of driving licences from five to eight years.

• A department-commissioned study found that the average renewal period across 35 countries is 8.5 years.
• The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) recommended eight-year validity for light vehicles and keeping five years for heavy vehicles.

Despite this, the DoT dismissed the proposal, citing “health reasons” and the need for regular eye tests to monitor drivers’ vision.

However, critics argue that:

• Eye tests could still be conducted without requiring frequent licence renewals.
• Many licence cards last over 10 years without durability issues.

Former Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula had indicated that the proposal was moving forward, but his successor, Sindiswa Chikunga, later claimed it was never presented to Cabinet.

Digital Driving Licences Also Rejected

Another potential solution was digital driving licences, which would eliminate the need for physical cards and avoid delays caused by printer malfunctions.

• The National Council of Provinces’ Public Infrastructure Committee raised this idea in November 2024.
• The government dismissed it, stating that digital licences are not part of its current policy framework.

What Does This Mean for Drivers?

South African motorists are left with:
A slow and outdated licence card printing system.
No timeline for the introduction of the promised new smart cards.
No policy changes to extend validity or introduce digital licences.

For now, drivers should renew their licences as early as possible to avoid being caught in backlogs. Until the government resolves these procurement issues, South Africans will continue facing unnecessary delays in obtaining new driving licence cards.

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com