Race against time to clear 2025 drivers’ licence backlog

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According to the Department of Transport, the 2025 drivers’ licence backlog now numbers 750 000 cards. Nevertheless, with the machine now back up and running, it says extra overtime shifts from staff will help clear the backlog … assuming the machine keeps functioning. It’s advised that you keep your expired driver’s licence and receipt of renewal as evidence if you are pulled over.

Furthermore, the department listed the worst impacted provinces of the 2025 drivers’ licence backlog. As The South African reported previously, the country’s only printing machine died early in January, and has not worked since. According to previous statements by the department, this is the 160th breakdown in 25 years of operation.

2025 DRIVERS’ LICENCE BACKLOG

So far, the worst affected provinces for the 2025 drivers’ licence backlog are:

Gauteng: 252 745
KwaZulu-Natal: 115 020
Western Cape: 108 402
Mpumalanga: 66 833
Limpopo: 61 769
Eastern Cape: 55 393
North West: 39 983
Free State: 33 741
Northern Cape: 13 862

Nevertheless, with the printing machine back up a running, the Department of Transport (DOT) is confident it can clear the backlog. It says 14-hour shifts can print up to 19 000 drivers’ licence cards at a time. However, the only limiting factor is available staff working overtime and if the ailing machine can keep working …

OVERTIME WORK

As a result, working hours for staff members at the agency have been extended to ensure a reduction of the backlog. A tender for a new card machine was awarded to a company in September 2024. However, after a report by the Auditor-General (AG) found non-compliance in procurement processes, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy blocked the contract.

Nevertheless, Wayne Duvenage of OUTA has also called on the DOT to extend the validity of driving licence cards from five to ten years in the meantime. He mentions that the DOT actually gazetted such a measure back in 2013, but since reversed it. This could be done while the current machine is on its last legs and a tender for a new machine is being finalised.