President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially signed the National Road Traffic Amendment Bill into law – and its main target is clear: rooting out corruption in the driver’s licence system.
A major part of the amended legislation focuses on the integrity of Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs) and the officials who operate within them. The new law introduces stricter controls and allows for the suspension or cancellation of individuals and centres involved in fraudulent licence activities.
DLTCs and training centres will now be registered and graded, with compliance monitored closely. Any individual – whether a driving examiner, traffic officer, or NaTIS official – found guilty of misconduct, criminal offences, or corruption can have their registration revoked. This includes those with direct or indirect financial interests in driving schools, testing centres, or vehicle-related businesses – even if those interests are held by a spouse or partner.
Furthermore, the Bill criminalises assisting a learner or driver’s licence applicant in committing fraud, officially classifying such assistance as a chargeable offence. This change aims to close long-standing loopholes and end the culture of buying licences through underhanded means.
The tightening of rules around financial interests is significant. Vehicle examiners and traffic officers will no longer be permitted to benefit – even indirectly – from services related to the manufacturing, selling, or repairing of vehicles. This is designed to eliminate conflicts of interest and promote trust in the system.
Beyond the licensing system, the new legislation also addresses several other key areas, Weighbridge facilities, number plate suppliers, and microdot technology providers must now be registered and graded.
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Emergency services are now obligated to respond immediately to crash scenes.
Emergency vehicle drivers responding to disasters may only pass through intersections against traffic at a maximum speed of 20km/h, to protect other road users.
Overall, the National Road Traffic Amendment Bill marks a serious step towards restoring integrity in South Africa’s road safety systems. Whether it brings the change promised will depend heavily on enforcement.
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