Efforts ramp up to tackle massive 2025 driver’s licence backlog

The Department of Transport says it is tackling a backlog of 750 000 driver’s licence cards for 2025, after restoring the printing machine to working order.

Staff have been scheduled for overtime shifts to speed up production, provided the machine remains operational. In the meantime, motorists are urged to carry both their expired licence and the renewal receipt as proof if stopped by law enforcement.

Furthermore, the department listed the worst-impacted provinces of the 2025 driver’s licence backlog. As The South African reported previously, the country’s only printing machine died early in January, and has not worked since. According to previous statements by the department, this is the 160th breakdown in 25 years of operation.

2025 DRIVERS’ LICENCE BACKLOG

So far, the worst affected provinces for the 2025 drivers’ licence backlog are:

• Gauteng: 252 745
• KwaZulu-Natal: 115 020
• Western Cape: 108 402
• Mpumalanga: 66 833
• Limpopo: 61 769
• Eastern Cape: 55 393
• North West: 39 983
• Free State: 33 741
• Northern Cape: 13 862

Nevertheless, with the printing machine back up a running, the Department of Transport (DOT) is confident it can clear the backlog. It says 14-hour shifts can print up to 19 000 drivers’ licence cards at a time. However, the only limiting factor is available staff working overtime and if the ailing machine can keep working …

OVERTIME WORK

As a result, working hours for staff members at the agency have been extended to ensure a reduction of the backlog. A tender for a new card machine was awarded to a company in September 2024. However, after a report by the Auditor-General (AG) found non-compliance in procurement processes, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy blocked the contract.

Nevertheless, Wayne Duvenage of OUTA has also called on the DOT to extend the validity of driving licence cards from five to ten years in the meantime. He mentions that the DOT actually gazetted such a measure back in 2013, but since reversed it. This could be done while the current machine is on its last legs and a tender for a new machine is being finalised.