The end of driving licences as you know it in South Africa is coming
The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) has demonstrated the use of a new digital licence and renewal system at the Global Digital Public Infrastructure Summit.
DCDT Minister Solly Malatsi showcased a digital driving licence renewal process on the MyMzansi app during his opening speech at the summit.
The demonstration showed that a driving licence renewal can be completed digitally in minutes, with credentials verified, details updated, steps processed, and a digital licence displayed — all connected to existing national systems.
The Public Servants Association (PSA), a union representing over 250,000 public workers, said that the move to replace physical driving licences with a digital system should be commended.
“The introduction of the digital driving licence is a technological upgrade and a fundamental shift that will modernise the transport sector and eliminate long-standing frustrations experienced by citizens,” it said.
The system would also be aimed at addressing challenges like corruption and fraud by reducing the opportunities for these to occur, as is the case with the current physical card process.
“The system will improve efficiency, thus significantly reducing long wait times, backlogs, and the administrative burden at driving licence testing centres,” the PSA said.
“The modernisation of the entire licensing system is long overdue.”
The PSA urged the Minister and the department to ensure that the digital transformation of the licensing system is supported by adequate funding, sufficient staffing, and a reliable support system.
Specifically, it stressed that the modernisation process should not further strain already challenging working conditions experienced by Road Traffic Management Corporation employees.
“Whilst the PSA supports efforts by the department to enhance service delivery, there are growing concerns about whether resources allocated to these initiatives are sufficient,” it said.
“Inadequate resources and outdated infrastructure can hinder employees’ ability to provide high-quality service and add frustration for users.”
The PSA added that the department should make adequate training and development available for employees to adapt to operational changes.
Challenges
While the DTDC is eager to demonstrate what is possible, the journey to launching digital driving licences in South Africa is far from easy.
According to technology analyst and researcher Arthur Goldstuck, while a digital driving licence would solve a lot of the country’s problems, the country is still far from being ready for them.
One of the biggest challenges is access to these kinds of digital services. Another issue is the security and safety around such systems.
“The single most important thing (with a digital licence) is security. Encryption, biometrics, and a system that can work offline as well,” Goldstuck said.
The tech analyst noted that to achieve the best security, South Africa will need to use the best-in-class companies and systems.
However, South Africa’s tender system tends to choose bidders based on connections to politicians, rather than selecting the best-suited candidate for the job.
This has already been demonstrated in the licensing field, with the recent tender and bidding process attached to the printed licence regime in South Africa coming under scrutiny and investigation over irregularities.
According to Goldstuck, the other issue with digital driving licences and digital services in general is that they are not accessible to all.
He stated that, despite smartphone adoption in South Africa increasing, millions of citizens still lack reliable access to devices or affordable data.
“If we don’t have an alternative for those citizens, we’re going to exclude them from something as basic as the right to drive,” he said.
Nevertheless, the era of digital driving licences is on the cards for South Africa, with the DCDT clearly promoting it and pushing for its implementation.
The Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA), the entity responsible for producing driving licence cards, has set far-off targets for digital licences in its Annual Performance Plan.
It hasn’t set any performance targets until 2026/27. It lists an output indicator for the project as “percentage of new card implementation”.
It targets 25% implementation by 2026/27 and 75% implementation by 2027/28.
Loading ...