The Western Cape Mobility Department says over 72,000 drivers in the Province who have applied for a new driver’s license card are still waiting on theirs, even after the faulty machine was repaired early last month. The Head of Communication at the Department, Muneera Allie says in the period between 8 May and 2 June, over 35,000 cards were produced for drivers locally.

READ MORE: Transport confirms resumption of driving license card printing operations

Over 72,000 Western Cape drivers, still waiting

She has expressed her pleasure with the progress made toward eliminating the backlog. Allie says the backlog in the Province remains at more than 72,000.

The Western Cape Mobility Department’s Muneera Allie says, “Concerning the driver’s licence card printing, between 8th May and 2nd June 2025, a total of 35,697 cards were produced for the Western Cape. As of 2 June, our backlog was at 72,435.”

The Transport Department announced in February that the driver’s license card printing machine was not in operation. It was repaired in the first week of May.

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy on the driving license cards

Meanwhile, the Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has revealed that there’s still a backlog with the issuing of driver’s license cards nationally, even though the card printing machine that broke in February has been repaired. She says, according to the latest data from the middle of last month, only over 14,000 cards have been printed.

Allie added, “As the Western Cape, we are pleased with the progress in working toward eliminating our backlog.”

This leaves a backlog of over 730,000 cards that must still be printed. Thousands of motorists could be in for a long wait. Minister Creecy’s comments follow a session in Parliament recently. She confirmed that the backlog stood at an estimated 733,000 by 15 May. It follows the breakdown of the card printing machine in February.

READ MORE: New driver’s license card coming in 2023