South Africa’s driving licence backlog has seen a significant reduction, offering relief to countless motorists across the nation. The Department of Transport (DoT) announced a dramatic decrease in outstanding driving licence cards, plummeting from roughly 800,000 in May to approximately 200,000 currently. This achievement follows an intensive, targeted effort to address the production delays that have plagued the system....Click to Read More >>➤

Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy credited the progress to the dedicated teams at the Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA). She reported that staff have been operating in three shifts, working around the clock to maximize output from the department’s aging and sole production machine. This relentless push has been crucial in tackling the persistent driving licence backlog that has caused lengthy waits for citizens.

New Backup System in the Works

Looking to prevent a recurrence of such disruptions, the DoT is advancing plans to establish a backup printing system. This secondary production line will be housed at the Government Printing Works (GPW). The initiative is a direct response to the vulnerabilities exposed by the current setup, where a single machine failure can halt all card production nationwide. A backup system is seen as essential for maintaining continuity and finally resolving the driving licence backlog for good.

Concurrently, the department’s legal pathway to acquire a new, modern printing system is clearing. The DoT’s high court application concerning the R898 million tender for a new card production system will now proceed unopposed. Minister Creecy described this development as a “relief,” noting it will significantly accelerate the procurement process. The original tender was awarded to Idemia Identity and Security South Africa in September 2024, but the process was stalled after the Auditor-General identified irregularities, creating a legal deadlock.

This legal impasse had forced the department to rely entirely on its outdated and unreliable equipment, directly contributing to the massive driving licence backlog. The combination of an old machine prone to breakdowns and the frozen tender process created a perfect storm, leaving hundreds of thousands of motorists in limbo. The progress on both the legal front and the backup system represents a multi-pronged strategy to achieve a permanent solution.

While the department continues to work on these long-term fixes, the immediate future looks brighter for drivers. The concerted effort to clear the queue means that the most severe phase of the driving licence backlog is now over. For motorists still awaiting their physical cards, the situation is improving steadily. The department’s focus remains on sustaining this momentum until the new systems are fully operational, ensuring this critical service runs smoothly and efficiently for all South Africans. ...Click to Read More >>➤