The Department of Transport (DoT) has tabled plans to extend the validity period of driving licence cards from five to eight years, a move that’s being welcomed as a long-overdue step towards global standards. But behind the good news lies a mess of contradictions, delays, and deeper systemic failures that raise more questions than answers.
The 8-year extension was first promised back in October 2022 by then-Minister Fikile Mbalula, who boldly declared: “We are changing the lifespan… it will be eight years.” The announcement was based on a 2022 Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) study that endorsed the move. Since then, however, the country has been stuck with a licence system that is both outdated and painfully slow and at the mercy of one single card printing machine that keeps breaking down.
In the DoT’s latest 2025/26 Annual Performance Plan, the extension is once again on the table, with a formal timeline rolled out:
- Q1: Consultations with executive bodies (EXCO, COTO, MINMEC)
- Q2: Public consultations via a Gazette notice
- Q3: Stakeholder committee engagements
- Q4: Submission of the proposal to Parliament for endorsement
If successful, the extension would bring South Africa in line with global norms and ease pressure on the country’s overburdened licensing systems.
But while the DoT presents the extension as a performance milestone, critics are questioning the motive. Is this really about improving service delivery, or simply a workaround for a crumbling system?
The February 2025 breakdown of the country’s only licence card printing machine created a backlog of up to six months. That alone is enough justification to space out renewals, not just by three years, but potentially even more. In fact, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has been pushing for a 10-year validity period.
Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage says: “We’ve been saying to Barbara Creecy and previous ministers: start by extending the validity from five to ten years. It’s the global norm and it immediately takes pressure off the department.”
More on licence validity extension
- Government U-Turns on Driving Licence Validity Period Extension
- Why a Digital Licence Is the Only Way to Save South African Motorists from the Broken Printer Nightmare
- Creecy Contemplates Extending Driving Licence Card Validity Amid Massive Backlog
- Nationwide Breakdown Brings SA Driver’s Licences to a Grinding Halt
Outa’s executive director for accountability, Stefanie Fick, echoed this in a formal letter sent to the minister on 17 June 2025, calling for a full decade of validity for all cards. According to Outa, it’s a practical, cost-effective solution, especially since no progress has been made on updating the card production system itself.
Adding to the confusion is the RTMC’s change in tune in 2024. Its CEO, Makhosini Msibi, opposed the extension, claiming that frequent eye testing was crucial because “many accidents are related to infectious and other diseases.” But when Outa requested the research backing that claim, the RTMC had none to show and the DoT itself later confirmed that no such report even exists.
So now the public is left with a proposal that looks good on paper but sits atop a shaky foundation. While the new eight-year plan might finally bring relief to drivers and licensing offices alike, critics say the underlying system is still fragile and that the real fix lies not just in buying time, but in overhauling the infrastructure.
At best, this proposed extension is a partial win for motorists. At worst, it’s a strategic delay masking the fact that the system is so overworked and outdated and it has no choice but to slow down the rate of renewals to survive.
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