Civil society organisation OUTA has welcomed Cabinet’s announcement that ten-year driving licence cards for light motor vehicles have been approved, but has called for urgent clarity and speedy implementation of the necessary legislation.
Cabinet announced yesterday that it had accepted the proposal to extend the validity of driving licences for light motor vehicles from five years to 10 years.
The change will apply to codes A, A1, B, and EB, while heavy commercial vehicles, public transport vehicles, and professional driving permits will continue under their current renewal cycles.
However, motorists must continue to renew their licence cards until the necessary legislative amendments have been passed and the new law comes into effect.
OUTA has campaigned for ten-year driving licence cards since the COVID-19 licensing crisis in 2020, calling the decision long overdue, as research across 35 countries found an average validity period of 8.5 years.
OUTA CEO Wayne Duvenage says it’s a victory for motorists and for common sense.
“Government has finally accepted that forcing motorists through an inefficient renewal system every five years wastes time and money without making our roads safer.”
OUTA first called for the validity period to be extended in September 2020, when COVID-19 restrictions severely disrupted licensing services and contributed to a growing backlog of expired driving licence cards.
In June 2021, the organisation surveyed 3 685 motorists about their experiences with the renewal system: 65% reported frustration with the ineffective online booking system, 60% complained about long queues, about 45% referred to poor staff attitudes and more than 10% said they had witnessed bribery.
On 10 March 2022, OUTA met with then Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula and presented its research and detailed motivation for extending the validity period to ten years.
“Government took far too long to act, despite having the evidence and the power to address this unnecessary administrative burden. We are nevertheless pleased that it has arrived at the right decision.”
Duvenage says Cabinet’s approval does not mean that the ten-year validity period takes effect immediately.
Amendments to the legal prescripts must first be published, and motorists must continue renewing expiring driving licence cards under the existing rules until the change officially comes into force.
He says the Department of Transport should now complete the required amendments to legislation without unnecessary delay, publish a clear implementation timetable and explain the transitional arrangements.
“This clarity is essential to prevent confusion and ensure that motorists do not mistakenly allow their current cards to expire.”
