10-year driving licence card extension officially gazetted – with details on what happens to existing cards
The Department of Transport has gazetted the proposed extension to driving licence cards for public comment, bringing the long-awaited change a major step forward.
In terms of the gazette, the validity of a driving licence card for code A, A1, B, or EB driving licences will be set to 10 years from the date on which it is ordered from the Card Production Facility.
The validity of a driving licence card for a code C1, C, EC1, or EC driving licence will be set to five years from the date on which it is ordered from the Card Production Facility.
Notably, the gazette also confirms what will happen with current cards being issued.
The existing driving licence card for code Al, A, B, or EB driving licences issued for a period of five years shall remain valid until the new driving licence card has been issued.
These cards will no longer be valid three months after expiry.
The gazetting for public comment represents a significant step forward for the official extension, with the comment window set for 30 days from the date of publication of the notice.
It is important to note that the changes are not yet in effect and still require legislative amendments. The official gazetting for comment is part of the process.
Following the public comment window, the department can move quickly to implement the necessary legislative changes.
The gazette follows confirmation from Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni at the end of July that Cabinet had approved the extension.
Importantly, the pace at which the process is progressing is beating all targets set by the Transport department earlier this year.
The 10-year extension is also larger than the 8-year extension initially sought.
The extension was officially included in the department’s short- and medium-term goals in April 2026, with the plan to secure the cabinet’s approval by the end of 2026/27 (March 2027).
This target was hit in July—eight months ahead of schedule.
The initial plan was to change the licence validity by 2028, but it now looks like this will happen much sooner.
According to Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) CEO, Wayne Duvenage, the ten-year licence validity could be in place within months, depending on the Presidency’s plans.
“If the minister and the Presidency really wanted to, it could be fast-tracked into the next couple of months,” he said.
“This may require some degree of public consultation,” he added, which is now taking place.
Duvenage warned that the road ahead is not without potential pitfalls and obstacles, but given the rapid move to public consultation, it appears the department is accelerating, rather than hitting the brakes.
The gazette can be read below:
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