The City’s Driving Licence Testing Centres have processed nearly 60 000 applications for new driving licences and Public Driving Permits since the beginning of the year.
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The City of Cape Town’s testing centres have processed nearly 60,000 licence and permit applications this year, but not a single card has been delivered.
According to CoCT's committee member for Safety and Security JP Smith, the machine used for the production of licence cards is broken - yet again.
He added that since repairs can only happen abroad, it is unknown when the repairs can take place.
"I am dismayed at the ongoing delays around the issuing of new driving licences. We experienced the same issue at the start of 2022, and the fact that nothing has changed three years later is an absolute indictment on those responsible," Smith said.
Smith explained that an expired driving licence card remains valid for three months from the expiration date.
He said if a renewal application was made before the expiry date.
The condition for this is the licence holder must possess the expired card and proof of payment.
"If the situation is not resolved within the three months, an application can be made for a temporary licence, which is valid for six months, or until the new/replacement driving licence card is issued," Smith said.
The renewal of a driving licence card after its expiry date will automatically require a temporary licence, which costs R45.
This does not apply to new drivers, who are issued with a temporary licence on successfully completing their licence test.
According to the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), it has formally written to the Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, on the status of repairs or acquiring a new machine.
Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage said the advocacy group has called for an extension of the validity period of the driver's licence card.
"Research we undertook in 2022 shows that many countries have already extended the validity period of their driver’s licence cards to ten years or more without compromising road safety," he said.
According to reports, the country's card printing machine has been out of operation since the start of the year.
"The Department must explain why the machine is not operational, despite previous repairs and maintenance contracts," he said.
Duvenage added that these matters can no longer be ignored.
"The public deserves transparency on the government’s plans to modernise the licensing system and address the backlog. Minister Creecy must provide an official response and commit to long-term solutions," he said.
seanne.rall@iol.co.za
IOL
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