Don’t expect to get a new driving licence card for the next 2 to 3 weeks
The Department of Transport says South Africans can still apply for driving license cards as normal, despite the card machine currently not working.
The department said that the production of license cards will not be affected by routine maintenance of the card production machine.
The routine maintenance started on 5 April and ended on 19 April, however, the technical team encountered a technical breakdown which requires a part from the Original Equipment Manufacturer.
The department said the card production should resume within two to three weeks.
New plans
The department recently said that it aims to roll out new digital driving license cards in South Africa this year as it attempts to introduce greater virtualisation and the automation of the Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA).
In 2022, then transport minister Fikile Mbalula said that the department would officially launch the digital license system in the 2023/25 financial year, with the card formally referred to as the mobile or electronic driver’s licence (eDL).
Motorists will have the option to choose from a physical card or an electronic driver’s license, which will be accessible from the motorist’s mobile phone.
The DLCA previously said that the increased mobile broadband penetration in South Africa made the introduction of the electronic license possible.
A new driving license card is still expected to precede the introduction of the new digital driving license, which is expected to launch in 2023.
The new card will have upgraded security features, such as biometric data, holograms, and watermarks. This is part of the department’s plan to reduce the number of fraudulent licences and improve road safety.
All new current driving license cars will be phased out, and the printing machine that produces them will be decommissioned later this year.
Read: Another sign that money is tight for households in South Africa
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