Drivers licence renewals: why the backlog persists and what motorists can do

South African motorists are again facing long waits for driving licence cards after the country’s only card-printing machine described in reporting as more than 26 years old continued to break down, creating production backlogs that run into the tens of thousands.

How the backlog arose

The immediate cause traces to a failed procurement process to replace the ageing printer. The Auditor-General flagged serious irregularities in the tender, including a budget increase from R486 million to R899 million and that the winning bidder, Idemia, had not met key technical requirements. The Pretoria High Court set that tender aside in January 2026, leaving the country reliant on the existing machine.

The situation echoes a February 2025 breakdown that produced a backlog of over 750,000 renewal applications, which reporting says took until January 2026 to clear.

Production and waiting times

As of mid-2026, production turnaround improved slightly, from 23 working days to 19, but backlog periods still extend renewal waits to 10–14 weeks in the worst cases.

Government’s planned fixes

The Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA) has outlined a phased response. It aims to reduce standard production time to seven working days by 2028/29 and has extended operational hours at renewal centres to help clear queues.

Cabinet approved in July 2026 a proposal to extend the validity of light-vehicle licences (codes A, A1, B and EB) from five years to eight and drafts mentioned the possibility of ten years to reduce renewal frequency. Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the change would ease demand pressure and align South Africa with international norms, but the proposal requires a legislative amendment and is not expected to take effect before 2027/28.

Practical options for motorists

• Book your renewal at least three months before expiry through NaTIS Online or your local Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLTC), since several provinces have integrated with the online booking system.

• After applying, you will receive a Temporary Driving Licence valid for six months. Keep this and your renewal receipt; reporting says this protects you from fines while your card is in production.

• If more than three months pass without an SMS update, contact the DLCA call centre on 012 999 5200 or check your status via NaTIS Online directly.

What to expect next

The DLCA’s targets and Cabinet’s validity-extension proposal form the government’s roadmap to ease pressure on the printing system and reduce how often motorists must renew. Both steps depend on implementation the production target is set for 2028/29 and the licence-validity change requires legislative amendment and is not expected before 2027/28.

Keep your temporary licence and renewal receipt with you while your card is being produced, and monitor NaTIS Online or contact the DLCA if you experience long delays.