Department of Transport silent on production of driving licence cards

Daniel Puchert

Daniel Puchert

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Good news for people with expired driver's licence cards in South Africa

The Department of Transport has been silent on delays surrounding the production of driving licence cards, and there are unconfirmed reports that the country's only driving licence printer is out of action, leaving many motorists without valid driving licences.

While driving without a valid licence can result in a hefty fine, there are protections in place for those who can prove that they've applied for a new licence.
 
Daniel Puchert said:
While driving without a valid licence can result in a hefty fine, there are protections in place for those who can prove that they've applied for a new licence.
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Presumably the receipt for booking and paying?

Else I guess the answer is to ask for the temporary license option.
 
It is laughable that nobody in government could see the need for having at least one backup machine for something where there is a single point of failure . Lets dissolve a few useless ministries and contribute the savings towards a backup machine.
 
Expired license card. Your drivers (personal) license doesn’t expire
 
What a waste of time reading that. "Good news", did I miss it? Where was the good news? The article rehashed pretty much word for word a previous article about getting pulled over while driving with an expired license card and then rehashed pretty much word for word a previous article about the backlog of drivers license card printing.
 
Brian_G said:
Presumably the receipt for booking and paying?

Else I guess the answer is to ask for the temporary license option.
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Given that the fault sits squarely on the shoulders of government, there should be no requirement other then to be able to prove you have already applied for a new license irrespective of how long it takes. The very entity not issuing the license demanding that you keep paying for a temporary license is unethical,... although of course the ANC is, if nothing else, unethical
 
SOP - If the government has a problem it means that you have a problem.
 
bobcpt said:
It is laughable that nobody in government could see the need for having at least one backup machine for something where there is a single point of failure . Lets dissolve a few useless ministries and contribute the savings towards a backup machine.
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I wonder what is so special about these printers that there is only one in the country. It's the same for the firearm licensing, there is only 1 printer in the country that can do the cards.... maybe it's the same printer.

But the ability to print to a plastic card is not that special.
 
Eniigma said:
I wonder what is so special about these printers that there is only one in the country. It's the same for the firearm licensing, there is only 1 printer in the country that can do the cards.... maybe it's the same printer.

But the ability to print to a plastic card is not that special.
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One of two thing I would imagine;

Security features (with an attempt to kept some secret?)
Or supply monopoly
 
Brian_G said:
Yeah, true. I hate going to court for nothing though, happened a few times to me.
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Thankfully I am not in this situation yet as mine was renewed end of 2023.

I wouldn't however, on principle, pay them a cent for a temporary license. If they want to issue one for free to me with an expiry date similar to the card they cannot supply me with then I'm happy with that, but I won't take one that's only valid for 3 months requiring me to return etc. and I won't pay for it.

Their problem, they can sort it out. I've paid for my license renewal and passed the eye test etc. They can suck eggs.
 
porchrat said:
Thankfully I am not in this situation yet as mine was renewed end of 2023.
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Likewise, mid 2023.

porchrat said:
I wouldn't however, on principle, pay them a cent for a temporary license. If they want to issue one for free to me with an expiry date similar to the card they cannot supply me with then I'm happy with that, but I won't take one that's only valid for 3 months requiring me to return etc. and I won't pay for it.

Their problem, they can sort it out. I've paid for my license renewal and passed the eye test etc. They can suck eggs.
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Agree of course, I was speculating worst case scenario but on second thoughts the speedcops are unlikely to get that organised anyway.
 
Brian_G said:
Likewise, mid 2023.



Agree of course, I was speculating worst case scenario but on second thoughts the speedcops are unlikely to get that organised anyway.
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The first couple of people that get involved with this sort of fine will get their fines dismissed pretty much instantly. The munis will then quickly instruct their cops to stop wasting their time trying to fine people that can provide proof they've renewed and are awaiting the card.

i.e. instructions will come from top-down, definitely not from the cops.
 
1am7h30n3 said:
What a waste of time reading that. "Good news", did I miss it? Where was the good news? The article rehashed pretty much word for word a previous article about getting pulled over while driving with an expired license card and then rehashed pretty much word for word a previous article about the backlog of drivers license card printing.
Click to expand...
MYBB Ai, there are NO jpurnalists at MYBB anymore, its all Ai
if Trump farts, we get 100 articles.
 
I applied for my renewal on 28 Feb, called Centurion RTMC last week and the person I spoke to told me the last time they received cards was 22 Jan 2025.

So can confirm there is something broken
 
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