Motorists struggling with expired driving licence cards due to the ongoing backlog may breathe a bit easier as the Transport Department rolls out some temporary relief measures.
Following mounting pressure from civil society and opposition MPs, the department has announced that it will waive the R72 fee for temporary driving licence cards when motorists renew their existing cards.
In addition, a moratorium has been placed on fines for those driving with expired cards, provided they can show proof of application for renewal.
This follows significant delays in the licence card printing process caused by the breakdown of the department’s printing machine in February. Although the machine resumed operation in May, the backlog still stood at over 635,000 by 23 June.
Read | Dept of Transport Turns to Home Affairs to Tackle Licence Card Crisis
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy confirmed that efforts are underway to ramp up production, including seeking approval for the facility to operate 24 hours a day. In the meantime, she urged motorists to keep their old cards and proof of renewal applications when travelling, to avoid unnecessary run-ins with law enforcement.
Under the new temporary rules, motorists will have a three-month grace period from the date of expiry, as long as they can prove that an application was made before the card expired.
If a renewal application is made after expiry, a temporary driving licence is still required, but the usual fee will not apply.
Meanwhile, the government is exploring interim measures to prevent a similar crisis in future. The department is in talks with the Government Printing Works for short-term support, while a permanent solution awaits the outcome of a court process related to the now-suspended Idemia contract. The tender had been put on hold due to concerns over procurement irregularities.
Until a new system is finalised, the department says it remains committed to addressing the backlog and easing the pressure on affected motorists.
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