Concerns grow over South Africa’s new driving licence card rollout
South African motorists are facing uncertainty as delays continue to impact the production of the country’s new driving licence cards. While the Cabinet recently approved an extension for the validity of current licences, experts warn that administrative hurdles could complicate this transition.
Transport officials have been working to modernize the system, aiming to introduce a more secure card that is harder to counterfeit. However, the process of upgrading the printing technology and infrastructure has taken longer than originally expected. This has led to concerns about whether the new cards will be ready for mass distribution by the planned dates.
Advocacy groups, such as the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), have highlighted that these delays could create a backlog. If the production process does not speed up, many drivers might find themselves with expired documents despite the government's attempts to provide more time for renewals.
The Department of Transport has not yet provided a clear timeline for when the new cards will be fully available to the public. For now, drivers are encouraged to keep an eye on official government announcements to ensure they remain compliant with road safety regulations during this period of transition.