Delay in introduction of new driver's licence card
Transport Department Spokesperson Collen Msibi says South Africans will have to wait longer to use the new modernised credit-card style driver’s licence.
The current driver’s licence cards were expected to be phased out starting from April 2024. However, it is now unclear when this will actually happen due to the delays.
The latest update from the Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA) revealed that it has yet to procure the driver’s licence printing machine required for the new cards.
According to the DLCA, the new licence will be aligned closer to international practices, with the new card also allowing for the incorporation of new technologies.
The new driving licence card will have improved security features, including biometric data, holograms, and watermarks, to reduce fraudulent licences and improve road safety.
Msibi says the new card has advanced safety features.
"The reason for the delay is the fact that the tender process that we had undertaken was a non-award process; in other words, we couldn't find a suitable service provider to undertake this work in terms of printing the new driver’s licence card.
"So, it does mean that therefore, we would have to restart the tender process again so that we are able to eventually find a suitable service provider to do this work.
"The new card is streets ahead in terms of its safety features compared to the current card that we have. It becomes even more impossible for anyone to counterfeit that particular card."
According to the DLCA, the new licence will be aligned closer to international practices, with the new card also allowing for the incorporation of new technologies.
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