Driver’s Licence limbo: Delays, chaos, and no end in sight

South African motorists are facing ongoing delays in obtaining new driver’s licences as the procurement of modern card printing machines remains stuck in limbo.

Alternative solutions have also been dismissed, leaving drivers dependent on an outdated and unreliable system.

According to Business Tech, the Department of Transport (DoT) hoped to resolve its printing issues in 2024 with the acquisition of three new machines.

However, an investigation into the tender process halted driver’s licence progress, adding more uncertainty to the timeline.

Auditor General’s Investigation

In January Transport Minister Barbara Creecy received the Auditor General’s final report on alleged irregularities in the procurement process for a new driver’s licence card production machine.

She told Moneyweb, she is still reviewing its findings and plans to release at least the executive summary to the public.

If a restart is recommended, further delays are inevitable. If the current tender is approved, civil action group Outa warns that legal challenges could cause more disruption.

South Africa has relied on a single, ageing printing machine for decades. The machine takes 14 working days to produce a single card and has broken down 159 times.

These malfunctions contributed to a backlog that peaked at 1.3 million driver’s licence renewals between 2022 and 2023.

Calls to Extend Licence Validity Rejected

While acquiring new machines will enhance turnaround times and streamline license card issuance, two alternative solutions have been proposed but have not been pursued by the DoT.

One proposed solution was to extend the validity of driver’s licence cards from five years to eight.

Research commissioned by the DoT found that the average validity period across 35 countries was eight and a half years.

The proposal was expected to reach Cabinet, but former Transport Minister, Sindiswa Chikunga later dismissed it, citing health concerns such as the need for regular eye tests.

Another suggestion was to introduce digital driver’s licences, eliminating the need for physical cards and reducing reliance on printing machines. This idea was raised in parliamentary discussions, but the DoT stated that digital licences are not part of government policy.

Uncertain Road Ahead

The government had planned to phase out the old printer and introduce new cards by 31 March 2024, following Cabinet approval in 2022.

However, ongoing tender disputes and delays have thrown this timeline into disarray.

Until the situation is resolved, South African drivers will remain stuck in a cycle of inefficiency and frustration.

Have you experienced delays in getting your driver’s licence renewed?

Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.

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