Stuck in Neutral: Why South Africans Are Waiting Months for a Simple Driving Licence

If you’ve recently applied to renew your South African driving licence, chances are you’re still waiting… and waiting. And unless something changes fast, the wait isn’t going anywhere.

What’s at the heart of the issue? A single, battered machine from the late ’90s, held together by increasingly expensive repairs, and a government struggling to replace it.

One Machine, 733,000 Cards, and No Backup Plan

South Africa currently relies on just one machine to print all its driving licence cards — a machine that’s been in service for over 26 years. Think about that: it’s older than most of the people applying for their first licence today.

In 2025 alone, this outdated printer has already broken down enough to cause 38 working days of downtime. Over the past few years, it’s been out of commission for nearly half a year’s worth of working days — and yet, it’s still the only machine the Department of Transport has.

The result? A backlog of 733,000 unprocessed cards. That’s only been reduced by about 14,500 cards since the printer came back online in May. At its best, the printer can produce between 14,000 to 19,000 cards in a single 14-hour shift. But that’s just barely enough to put a dent in the problem.

And here’s the real kicker: while the backlog grows, new applications keep rolling in every day.

Why No New Printers?

The obvious solution — replace the broken machine — isn’t quite so simple. The Department of Transport had plans to upgrade the entire licensing system, including the procurement of three modern printing machines that could be maintained locally.

But then, bureaucracy got in the way.

A R900 million tender to overhaul the system was awarded to a company, only to be dragged into an Auditor-General investigation for irregularities. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has since put the plan on pause, waiting for a declaratory order from the High Court on how to move forward without breaching procurement laws.

Until the court makes a decision, the department says its hands are tied — and so, the country remains stuck with a single, faltering printer.

Drivers Pay the Price… Twice

As the backlog drags on, drivers are being nudged to apply for temporary licences, which of course, come at an extra cost.

This has raised eyebrows, especially from the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), a civil action group that has long criticized the Department of Transport’s handling of the issue. Outa has also proposed alternative solutions — such as extending the validity of driving licences to 10 years or introducing a digital licence system — both of which have been flatly rejected.

Why? According to Outa, the current system generates too much revenue for the government to let go.

So instead of embracing tech-forward, citizen-friendly solutions, the government appears to be clinging to a broken machine and a broken process — because it’s lucrative.

What’s Next for SA Drivers?

While the Department waits for legal clarity, drivers are caught in the crossfire of inefficiency and delay. At this pace, the backlog could take months to clear, and that’s assuming the machine doesn’t break down again — which, let’s be honest, it probably will.

In the meantime, motorists must either continue to wait in limbo or shell out for temporary documents just to stay on the right side of the law.

South Africans Deserve Better

There’s no excuse for this kind of systemic failure in 2025. Drivers shouldn’t be punished for government mismanagement, nor should they have to pay twice because of a 26-year-old machine that’s falling apart.

It’s time for decisive action — not legal foot-dragging. Whether that’s fast-tracking the printing machine replacement, extending licence validity, or going digital, South Africans need a modern, reliable, and fair licensing system.

Until then, drivers remain stuck in neutral.

Had a delay with your driving licence? Speak up. Share your story on social media, write to your local representative, and support organizations pushing for real reform like Outa. Change won’t come until the pressure mounts — and that starts with us.

{Source: BusinessTech}

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