New electronic driver's licence for SA

If you are a licensed motorist in South Africa you are likely to have experienced some form of inefficiency at your local traffic department. The Covid-19 lockdown has only exacerbated the inefficiencies but thankfully the transport department is taking action to improve the situation.

The Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA) is responsible for producing driver’s license cards and in its annual performance plan, it was announced that a new driver license car system is in the final phase of design.

The DLCA said: “The introduction of the new driving license involves a new design of the driving license card, and the re-engineering of processes to allow for agility and focus on delivering services efficiently and quickly. The project will allow for the adoption of digital technologies such as blockchain and other related technologies which will form the platform of an integrated transport system.”

Fikile Mbalula has acknowledged that serious intervention is necessary to alleviate pressure at Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs).

“Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs) provide an important service to our motorists, as they are an important support system to enable mobility. The difficulties experienced by citizens in booking slots through the online platform is a serious cause for concern. We are gravely concerned that preliminary investigations suggest that corruption is the principal driver of lack of availability of booking slots in various DLTCs across Gauteng,” Mbalula said.

“The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic laid bare these challenges, most of which are a consequence of corruption in the system,” he added.

Improve efficiency, stem corruption and modernise the process

The intention of the new driver’s license card system is to improve efficiency, stem corruption and modernise the process through the adoption of technology that will eliminate or drastically reduce the need to queue at DLTCs.

The DLCA will also modernise the production of driving licenses which will include a new machine that will produce better quality license cards but also lay the foundation for a mobile or e-driving licence.

This means that motorists will have the option for both a physical driver’s license card as well as an electronic license.

We expect to see the rollout of the new driver’s license card system towards the end of 2021 or early in 2022. We will keep you updated as soon as more information becomes available.