I booked to renew my driver’s licence online — and it’s late

I recently booked to renew my driving licence card using the National Administration Traffic Information System’s (Natis) online platform. While the experience was great, my card still isn’t ready for collection.

Upon completing the driving renewal application, I was advised it would be ready to collect in four to six weeks.

This timeframe is also noted on the South African government’s driving licence renewal information page.

Today marks exactly six weeks since my application was submitted, and I have yet to receive an SMS or email telling me it is ready for collection.

Despite the delay in receiving my renewed driving licence card, I was thoroughly impressed with the process of booking and submitting my application.

Upon my arrival at the Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLTC), it took roughly 20 minutes to complete the application.

This was despite several delays during the process, including filling out a new application form and struggling with the eye test.

The DL1 form linked on the Natis website is outdated, so the one I filled out was invalid.

Using the Natis Online service, I booked to renew my licence at the Eco Park DLTC at 15:00 on Friday, 24 May 2024.

It was a pleasant surprise to be greeted by smiling faces, virtually no queues, and staff at almost every processing station.

The officer at the front desk kindly informed me that the application form I had brought with me was outdated and printed me the correct one to fill out.

This added roughly four minutes to the renewal process. Once I had completed the form, the officer showed me where to sit down. I was the only person waiting to be helped.

A staff member quickly called me to one of the processing stations after sitting down for a brief while.

Again, the agent who helped me was helpful and friendly. She immediately got to submitting my renewal information and captured my thumbprints.

She then explained how the eye test would work before proceeding, which is where the second delay came in.

Simply put, the eye testing machines weren’t designed for people with glasses.

While I passed the first section of the test with flying colours, the second part, which involved a peripheral flashing light, was not so straightforward.

The frames of my glasses blocked these flashes entirely. After a failed attempt, the staff member advised that I remove my glasses and try again.

While I couldn’t read the on-screen instructions, I knew what to expect, and was successful on this attempt.

I paid R300 for the renewal, including a temporary driving licence, as my card had expired some time ago. I left the Eco Park DLTC at 15:17.

Not all motorists have a pleasant experience using the Natis online platform, and it isn’t available to all South African motorists.

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) launched the platform in February 2022, but it remains restricted to Gauteng and Eastern Cape motorists.

The system allows these motorists to book renewal slots, among other things, online.

RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane previously told MyBroadband that it is up to each province’s transport MEC to decide if it will support the service.

“The RTMC has made the service available to all provinces and will be able to roll it out as soon as the provincial authorities indicate their readiness to have the services,” he said.

He added that only the Gauteng and Eastern Cape transport departments had accepted the offer.

MyBroadband also spoke to Western Cape transport and public works department spokesperson Jandré Bakker. He said the rollout faced significant challenges in Gauteng.

“The department has been waiting for a report on the experience of Gauteng to assist with the decision-making process,” he said.

“The report was recently received, and it must still studied by departmental officials.”