National industrial action delays issuing of driving licence cards

Members of the public waiting for their driving licence cards may experience a delay because of industrial action at the Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA) in Pretoria. While the processing of applications for new licence cards and renewals is decentralised, all cards are issued by the DLCA, a trading entity of the National Department of Transport. This delay will therefore affect applicants all over South Africa.

Drivers who apply for a driving licence card renewal on or before the expiry date pay R140 for the new card. They may continue to drive for a maximum of three months, provided they are in possession of their application receipts and their old cards. Drivers who apply after their licences have expired pay R140 for the new card, and must also apply for a temporary licence at an additional cost of R45. Temporary driving licences are valid for six months. The Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) encourages members of the public to apply for their replacement cards well in advance to mitigate the risk of having to obtain a temporary driving licence.

It bears repeating that application receipts and old licence cards may only be used for three months from the application date. Should drivers not yet have received their new licence cards at that point, they will have to obtain a temporary licence. This is unfortunately outside the control of DTPW.

DTPW is acutely aware of the frustration this may cause. Despite the fact that this delay is not the fault of DPTW or any of the local driving licence testing centres, the Department will keep the public informed of any further developments. This dispute can only be resolved at national level, and the delay will persist until such time as the dispute is resolved.