Lifeline for motorists as Mbalula extends driver’s licence grace period
South African motorists have been thrown another lifeline after Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula confirmed the extension of the grace period for expired driver’s licences.
Mbalula made the announcement in Midrand on Friday morning.
“After consultation with MECs and Salga we have decided to extend the grace period of the validity of driving licenses that expired between 26 March 2020 to 31 August 2021 to 15 April 2022,” he said.
Mbalula said although backlog in the issuing of driver’s license has been reduced, it still stands at over half a million.
“As on 28 March 2022. We had produced 628 150 licence cards reducing the backlog of cards to be printed to 522 830.”
Motorists have been granted multiple extensions for renewals, but the turnout still remains low, and Mbalula warned that the current extension would be the final one.
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“The number of driving license cards falling in the category to whom the grace applies for which renewal application have yet to be made stands at 1 424 000.
“This is a reduction from 2 813 016. This means that only 49% of affected motorists have applied for renewal of their expired driving licenses.”
Motorists have been urged to make use of the latest extension as the country’s drivers license and testing centres will be open on weekends.
