City frustrated by ongoing driving licence card renewal woes

09 April 2025

MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE MAYORAL COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY, ALDERMAN JP SMITH

I am dismayed at the ongoing delays around the issuing of new driving licences.

The City’s Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs) have processed nearly 60 000 applications for new driving licences and Public Driving Permits (PrDPs) since the beginning of the year.

To date, not a single card has been received for those applications from the Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA) in Pretoria - a national entity that produces these driving licence cards for the whole country.

It is our understanding that the machine used in the production of the cards broke down yet again – and since repairs can only happen abroad, it is anyone’s guess as to when the situation will be remedied.

We experienced the same issue at the start of 2022, and the fact that nothing has changed three years later, is an absolute indictment on those responsible.

The City calls on the National Transport Minister to act with haste and address this issue once and for all – it is unacceptable that motorists have to bear the brunt for these inadequacies, but also our Traffic Services’ staff who are at the coalface.

WHAT THE DELAY MEANS FOR THE MOTORING PUBLIC?

In terms of the National Road Traffic Act, an expired driving licence card will remain valid for a period of three months from the date of expiry, if a renewal application was made before the expiry date.

The condition for this is that the holder of the licence must be in possession of the expired card and proof of payment.

If the situation is not resolved within the three months, an application can be made for a temporary licence, which is valid for six months, or until the new/replacement driving licence card is issued.

The renewal of a driving licence card AFTER its expiry date will automatically require a temporary licence, which costs R45.

This does not apply to new drivers, who are issued with a temporary licence on successfully completing their licence test.

The City apologises for any inconvenience caused.

End

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office