Driver's licence validity period may be extended - Transport minister

Driver's licence validity period may be extended - Transport minister

It will be a while before change, but the government will push for more years.

Drivers license card is now easier to renew in South Africa.
Drivers license card is now easier to renew in South Africa. iStock

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has been pushing the government to extend the lifespan of driver's licences.

Mr Razz-Matazz also commented on the fact that South Africa is in the process of procuring a new machine to print smart driver's licence cards.

Read more: SA to get 'more secure' driving licence

Mbalula appeared on JJ Tabane's show on ENCA where he eluded that the department is approaching cabinet with the proposal of an eight-year renewal period for driver’s licences.

The currently validity period for a normal driver's licence in South Africa is currently five years. 

According to The South African, the Transport minister is adamant that these changes will be beneficial to South Africans.

"We are changing the life-span of the driver’s licence in South Africa from 5 year to 8 years as a whole," says Mbalula. 

Read more: Extended hours for motorists to renew driving licences amid looming deadline

Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) and Automobile Association (AA) form part of civil society groups calling for licences to only be required to be renewed every ten years instead of five.

As Mbalula is already compiling a report to submit to parliament, things could be slowly changing for the better in South Africa. 

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Main image attribution: iStock

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