The transport department has not disclosed how long it will take to address the backlog
26 January 2022 - 15:48
byDenis Droppa
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Transport minister Fikile Mbalula at Grasmere Toll Plaza in Johannesburg, January 18 2022. Picture: FREDDY MAVUNDA.
Transport minister Fikile Mbalula has announced that the driver’s licence card printing machine is back in operation.
“Hallelujah. The staff is pulling day and night shift to ensure your licenses are made and delivered,” Mbalula said on Wednesday morning. He was speaking in a Twitter video post from the Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA) facility he visited the day before, standing in front of the newly repaired machine while it printed licence cards.
It is the only machine able to print the cards and was sent to Germany for repairs after breaking down in November.
The 20-year old printer was initially expected to be back in service in March, and its earlier-than-expected repair will help alleviate the backlog in issuing licences
Good morning SA, yesterday I visited the Staff at the DLCA and spent the afternoon with them.
The Licensing Card Machine has been fixed and is in operation. The Staff is pulling Day and Night shift to ensure your License are made and delivered. pic.twitter.com/zUaqyvJLlI
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) said that the backlog in issuing licences was between 400,000 and 500,000 since the machine broke down.
The transport department did not disclose how long it would take to address the backlog.
In August, Mbalula extended the grace period for the renewal of expired driving licences to March 31, due to a huge backlog caused by the closure of driving licence-testing centres (DLTCs) due to Covid-19, faulty equipment and systems, and corruption where officials sold online block bookings for bribes.
Last week Mbalula announced that processes to digitise driving licence renewal procedures were in the pipeline and would result in a paperless process. This will include online eye-testing for drivers’ licences, where the eye test result will be automatically uploaded and linked to the user application.
Mbalula also recently confirmed that the government was considering a new smart driving licence card, which was still awaiting cabinet approval.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
NEWS
SA driving licences are being printed again
The transport department has not disclosed how long it will take to address the backlog
Transport minister Fikile Mbalula has announced that the driver’s licence card printing machine is back in operation.
“Hallelujah. The staff is pulling day and night shift to ensure your licenses are made and delivered,” Mbalula said on Wednesday morning. He was speaking in a Twitter video post from the Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA) facility he visited the day before, standing in front of the newly repaired machine while it printed licence cards.
It is the only machine able to print the cards and was sent to Germany for repairs after breaking down in November.
The 20-year old printer was initially expected to be back in service in March, and its earlier-than-expected repair will help alleviate the backlog in issuing licences
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) said that the backlog in issuing licences was between 400,000 and 500,000 since the machine broke down.
The transport department did not disclose how long it would take to address the backlog.
In August, Mbalula extended the grace period for the renewal of expired driving licences to March 31, due to a huge backlog caused by the closure of driving licence-testing centres (DLTCs) due to Covid-19, faulty equipment and systems, and corruption where officials sold online block bookings for bribes.
Last week Mbalula announced that processes to digitise driving licence renewal procedures were in the pipeline and would result in a paperless process. This will include online eye-testing for drivers’ licences, where the eye test result will be automatically uploaded and linked to the user application.
Mbalula also recently confirmed that the government was considering a new smart driving licence card, which was still awaiting cabinet approval.
Online eye tests to be part of major licensing system revamp
With festive road deaths up 14%, Fikile Mbalula to appeal Aarto ruling
Government should concede defeat on Aarto, AA says
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Dangerous roads and poor safety equipment put gig-economy drivers at risk
Road safety entity digs in heels over driver’s licence renewals
Expired licences: drivers get relief from insurers
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.