South African motorists must keep receipts as driver’s licence printer is back in operation

Following the repair of South Africa’s sole driver’s licence printing machine, the government has instructed motorists who applied for renewals before expiry to retain receipts, while those who missed the deadline need a temporary licence to continue driving legally.

This update follows an announcement from the Department of Transport, following confirmation that the printing machine, which had been out of order for nearly three months, is now fully operational.

The machine, the country’s sole printer for driving licences, has reportedly experienced 160 breakdowns over its years of service. Its prolonged failure sparked widespread frustration among motorists, many of whom argued that the delays were both unfair and disruptive.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter),on Monday the government explained that, due to a backlog, motorists who had applied for licence renewals before the expiry date should retain their receipt as proof, while those who applied after the expiry date must apply for a temporary driving licence to drive legally.

According to reports, the backlog currently stands at approximately 747,000 cards that remain to be printed. To help reduce this number, the Department of Transport has confirmed that working hours for staff at the Driving Licence Card Agency, an entity of the Department, will be extended.

"Motorists who applied for the renewal of their driving licence cards before the expiry date of their current licence should keep their receipt as proof of their renewal application, along with their expired driving licence card. It is also advisable for them to apply for temporary licences," the post said.

"Motorists who applied after the expiry date of their current driving licence card are required to apply for temporary driving.

Cape Argus