Light at the End of the Tunnel: South Africa’s Licence Card Crisis Finally Easing

For years, the phrase “driving licence renewal” has been enough to make any South African motorist sigh with frustration. The cycle seemed endless: long queues, agonizing waits, and a constant fear that the country’s single, ageing card printer would break downwhich it often did.

Now, for the first time in a long time, there is tangible hope that this national headache is finally being cured.

The Backlog is Shrinking Fast

The most recent crisis began in February 2025, when the sole, 27-year-old printer broke down for three months, creating a mountain of nearly 750,000 unprinted cards.

The good news? That mountain is being rapidly levelled. According to the Department of Transport, the backlog has been slashed by 77%, dropping to just over 169,000 cards by early November. Since the machine was fixed, production has been running at an impressive average of over 10,000 cards per day, a significant increase from the usual output.

A Two-Pronged Solution for the Future

The real progress, however, lies in ensuring this doesn’t happen again. The government is moving on two critical fronts:

1. A Backup Plan is Alive: In a smart move, the Transport Department has signed a deal with the Government Printing Works (GPW)the same entity that efficiently produces millions of smart ID cards. They are now testing samples and working to integrate databases to make GPW a functioning backup printer. This would provide a crucial safety net the country has desperately needed.

2. A Clean Slate for a New System: The plan to introduce modern, secure smart card printers has been stalled by a messy tender dispute. However, a court date has been set for 6 January 2026 to officially cancel the flawed R899 million contract. Crucially, the case is unopposed, meaning it should proceed smoothly, allowing for a fresh and transparent tender process.

The End of an Era

These developments signal a profound shift. The reliance on a single, antique machine that required parts to be sent to Europe for repair is finally being phased out. The combination of clearing the current backlog, establishing a reliable backup with GPW, and resolving the legal deadlock over new printers means the infamous licence card delays could soon be a relic of the past.

For South African drivers, it appears the long, frustrating road to a reliable licence renewal system is finally nearing its end.

{Source: Mybroadband}

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