Still waiting for your driving licence card? Here’s why…
Renewed your driver’s licence card and haven't received it yet? We’ve got the details.
If you’ve renewed your driver's licence and are waiting for your card, there’s a reason behind why it's taking so long.
According to BusinessTech, South Africa’s only printing machine is out of order – yet again.
The machine is waiting to be fixed.
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Late last month, City Press revealed that the machine had faced issues and stopped working in January.
Sources have claimed that the machine often breaks down, resulting in an increased backlog of licences waiting to be printed.
Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy has raised concerns over the machine, adding that the subsequent backlog has forced the testing centres to give out temporary licences.
“It’s common knowledge that the existing machine is very old. We are trying to enhance maintenance efforts so that it can resume printing, but I have also requested the acting director-general to look at interim solutions,” she added.
In early March, Creecy instructed her department to lodge a high court application to block the tender for driving licence card machines.
Part of the proposals for this tender includes acquiring three driving licence card printing machines, which will be maintained in South Africa.
The current machine has to be taken overseas to be repaired.
IOL reports that cancelling this tender could worsen the already troubling backlog.
History of the driving licence printing machine
The only driving licence card printing machine in South Africa has been active since 1998.
This means that this year, the machine is 27 years old.
Given its advanced age, the breakdowns are expected.
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