Call for Transport Minister to suspend penalties for motorists amid driving licence backlog

The Department of Transport is facing mounting pressure to address a significant backlog of driving licence cards, currently standing at 690,000, following the breakdown of its sole card-printing machine in April.

As the department works to reduce this backlog, which has decreased by approximately 43,000 from the previously reported 733,000, stakeholders are urging Transport Minister Barbara Creecy to waive fines for motorists affected by the delays.

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse's (Outa) Advocate Stefanie Fick on Tuesday wrote to Creecy and asked her to consider announcing a moratorium on fines related to expired driver’s licence cards for motorists who have already applied for renewals, and that no temporary licences should be required until all backlogs have been cleared. 

She also requested the department to consider issuing public communication of this moratorium through all official channels, including the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC),  provincial traffic authorities and traditional and social media.

Fick added that the department must provide clarity to all enforcement officials to prevent unwarranted fines and harassment of motorists.

Department of Transport spokesperson, Collin Msibi, confirmed it received the letter which is being processed internally for the Minister's attention.

Fick said it was important to note that during the Covid-19 pandemic, the department recognised the exceptional circumstances and issued blanket extensions on the validity of expired driver’s licences, allowing the public reasonable leeway while the system was caught up. 

She said this temporary relief was an example of fair, compassionate governance in the face of operational disruption. 

“We urge the department to take a similar approach now, especially given that this crisis stems from internal systemic failures rather than a national emergency,” Fick said. 

Creecy recently revealed that the department spent over R12 million on the repair and maintenance of the printing machine over the past three years. 

The department has been trying to procure another machine for years, but repeatedly cancelled and reissued the tender.

In August last year, the department announced that it had appointed Idemia and Security South Africa as the preferred bidder for a tender to print new driving licence smart cards. 

However, Outa’s investigation uncovered irregularities and handed the report to Creecy, who in turn passed it to the Auditor-General (AG). 

In March, Creecy announced that the AG investigation identified instances of non-compliance with the required procurement procedures, and added that she instructed her department to lodge a High Court application for a declaratory order regarding the tender.

Fick said Outa is still waiting for clarity on the contract process.

Cape Argus