AfriForum Youth challenges transport minister to retake learner’s licence test after sharp fall in pass rates

AfriForum Youth has challenged Barbara Creecy, Minister of Transport, to retake the learner’s licence test after the introduction of new computerised tests coincided with a sharp drop in pass rates, the Sunday Independent reported on 21 July 2026.

What AfriForum Youth is asking

The organisation says the new testing system has made it hard for young people to obtain a learner’s licence. Reports say the national pass rate for the test has dropped by almost 30%, and that some provinces have recorded pass rates as low as 17%.

AfriForum Youth has invited Minister Creecy to sit the test herself and said its members will take the test alongside her to highlight the experiences of thousands of young people with the new system.

Concerns about question wording and fairness

Hanno Koster, Youth Leader of AfriForum Youth, said initiatives to eliminate corruption and improve integrity in the testing process are welcome, but that the system must still test candidates’ knowledge of the rules of the road rather than their ability to interpret complicated or ambiguous questions.

“It is undoubtedly in the public interest to ensure that drivers have a thorough knowledge of the rules of the road. However, the alleged decline in pass rates raises valid questions about whether the current system is achieving its objectives without creating a range of obstacles for prospective drivers,” Koster said.

AfriForum Youth said numerous young people who approached them claim some questions are ambiguous and that they had to take the learner’s licence test several times before passing.

Requests made to the minister

In a letter to the minister, AfriForum Youth asked about:

• the updating and translation of the current study material
• whether an independent investigation into the fail rates had been conducted
• whether the wording of certain questions might be unfairly disadvantaging competent candidates

Koster added:

“It is therefore important that the reasons for this apparent decline are clearly communicated, as well as the measures in place to ensure that the current system is fair, transparent and accessible.”

Why the group says this matters

AfriForum Youth said a learner’s licence is often a first step towards further training, employment opportunities and independence for many young people, and that the public deserves assurance that study material is adequate and that candidates are assessed on their knowledge of the rules of the road.