Big problem for anyone trying to renew their driving licence in South Africa

South Africa’s driving licence backlog will take several months to clear, with the Organisation for Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) calling for no fines to be issued until the backlog is cleared.

The Department of Transport recently announced that the current driving licence production backlog would take four to six months to be cleared.

Although the department clarified that the driving licence printer had not broken down and has been in operation since early May, it did note that the backlog sits at close to 700,000 licences.

It further claimed that 269,000 cards had already been printed, but MyBroadband pointed out that this includes new card applications, with the backlog reducing by only 43,000 since 15 May.

Although it usually takes about 14 days from the application date to get the card, the delay means it will probably take four to six weeks for South Africans to collect their cards.

It stated that those who applied for their driver’s licence card before the current one expires can just keep the receipt with them in their car.

The clarification from the department comes after reports misinterpreted Transport Minister Barbara Creecy’s response to Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi over the backlog. 

Creecy revealed that the driving licence backlog was 733,000 as of 15 May 2025.

However, MyBroadband noted that at the current printing rate of under 2,400 cards per day, it will take 13 months to clear the backlog.

Calls for big changes

With the backlog potentially stretching from four to 13 months, OUTA has asked Creecy to waive fines and temporary licences for those whose new cards are stuck in the backlog.

The non-profit civil action organisation also wrote to the minister asking her to consider extending the validity of all cards to 10 years.

While the card backlog exists, OUTA also called for the following:

1. Announcing a moratorium on fines related to expired driver’s licence cards for motorists who have already applied for renewals, and that no temporary licences are required until all backlogs have been cleared.
2. Public communication of this moratorium through all official channel,s including RTMC platforms, provincial traffic authorities and traditional and social media.
3. Providing clarity to all enforcement officials to prevent unwarranted fines and harassment of motorists.

OUTA’s Advocate Stefanie Fick said that it would be unfair to fine motorists who are still waiting for their renewed cards.

The organisation has been highly involved in the licensing printing machine process, with an investigation last year uncovering significant irregularities in buying a new driving licence card machine.

The tender was awarded in August, with OUTA handing over its investigation to the Minister, who in turn passed it onto the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA).

In March 2025, Creecy announced that the AGSA’s investigation confirmed irregularities.

The AGSA’s report found that the award of a tender worth R898 million was irregular, with the budget set for a new machine set at just over R486 million.

Although Creecy said she would go to court to overturn the tender award, OUTA is still waiting for clarity on the contract process.