Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula says the Drivers Licence Card Machine has been fixed and is in operation. In a tweet, he added that staff are working day and night to ensure the backlog in the issuing of drivers licences has been cleared.
Earlier this month it was reported that the machine was taken to Germany for repairs and that the country only had one driver’s licence printer to ensure corruption was prevented.
Previously, Mbalula indicated that the machine would be repaired by the end of March 2022. The Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA) is responsible for the production of the card licences. The machine reportedly broke down in November 2021, and it was estimated that more than half a million South Africans were then forced to get a temporary drivers licence.
Good morning SA, yesterday I visited the Staff at the DLCA and spent the afternoon with them.
The Licensing Card Machine has been fixed and is in operation. The Staff is pulling Day and Night shift to ensure your License are made and delivered. https://t.co/k2xuXNMkM1 pic.twitter.com/x3XjYpkx6O
— FIKILE MBALULA | MR FIX (@MbalulaFikile) January 26, 2022
The penalty for driving with an expired licence was waived since the machine broke down and it was explained that there is only one machine in the country to prevent corruption and licence fraud
At the same Mbalula said that there are plans to replace the one machine with several others that have upgraded security features that will prevent fraudulent duplications of drivers licences.
