Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has extended the validity of driver’s licences that expired or will expire between 26 March, 2020 and 31 December, 2020.
In a gazette notice published on Thursday, Mbalula said these licences “are deemed to be valid and their validity periods are extended for a further grace period ending on 31 August, 2021.”
Immediate effect
The affected licences include all learner’s licences, driving licence cards, temporary driving licences and professional driving permits.
The extension comes into effect immediately and is likely to offer much-needed reprieve for thousands of motorists across South Africa.
The previous deadline for drivers’ licence renewals was 31 January, 2021, which was also an extension from a 31 August, 2020 deadline.
Lockdown restrictions hampered operations at Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs) for several months earlier this year, compounding a backlog of drivers’ licence renewals.
320,000 backlog
In an interview with eNCA in November, Mbalula said DLTCs have a massive backlog of 320,000 driving licences and the demand is growing by 90,000 each month.
Applicants have also experienced difficulties getting renewal booking slots via the online booking system.
In an attempt to address the backlog, the Gauteng provincial government announced in November that DLTCs will dedicate 70 percent of booking slots and capacity to drivers’ licence renewals.
It also announced measures to deal with alleged corruption, collusion and bribery at DLTCs, including a forensic investigation.
To download Mbalula’s gazette notice from the Government Printing Works Online website, click here.