South Africa continues to face delays in the production of driving licence cards following the breakdown of the country’s only functional card printing machine.
The Department of Transport has been issuing temporary driving licences in the meantime, as the outdated backup machine currently in use is slow and frequently malfunctions.
According to the department, the primary machine remains under maintenance, with repairs being coordinated in partnership with the sole equipment supplier based in France. It is anticipated that the machine could be operational again within two to three weeks.
This latest setback adds to a series of long-standing challenges that have plagued the licence application and renewal process. Motorists are being advised to carry their expired cards along with a valid temporary driving licence while the card backlog persists.
Compounding the issue, the department revealed that the recent tender process to procure new machines and upgraded licence cards has been flagged for irregularities, further delaying potential solutions.
The situation underscores the fragility of the current licensing infrastructure and the urgent need for modernisation to avoid similar crises in future.
