Motorists are encouraged to keep the receipt after purchasing a new licence, as more than half a million driving licence cards are yet to be delivered.

The receipt acts as proof that motorists are still waiting to receive their licence if they get caught in a roadblock.

The backlog stems from February this year, when the country’s only card printing machine broke down. Although it was repaired and resumed operations in May, the Department of Transport has confirmed that around 539,000 licence cards are yet to be printed. 

READ MORE: Printing machine for driving licence cards back online

Department spokesperson Collen Msibi, in an interview with Afrika Melane on 702, acknowledged the extent of the problem, noting that while production had resumed, demand continues to compound the situation. 

He said the department receives, on average, 10,000 licence card applications daily. 

At the same time, Msibi advised that the waiting period for motorists has been extended to between six and eight weeks, from the original four to six weeks. This, he said, depends on the number of applications received, which varies from day to day.  

To ease the burden, temporary licences are being issued free of charge, after the R72 fee was waived. Msibi stressed that motorists would not be penalised if they could show proof of application. 

Msibi advised that the Western Cape is among the provinces worst affected by the backlog, as well as Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, which he said is due to the large populations in these regions.