GEORGE NEWS - After months of mounting frustration for South African motorists, the country's only driver's licence card printing machine is back online.
However, despite resuming operations in early May, a massive backlog of nearly 750 000 unprinted cards continues to clog the system.
The machine, which broke down on 5 February, has been in service for over 25 years and remains the sole device of its kind in South Africa.
Repairs took more than three months, largely due to the difficulty of sourcing replacement parts from Europe.
Although the department insists the printing machine did not break down and has been operational since early May, it acknowledges that the nationwide backlog still currently stands at about 690 795 cards, with 269 370 cards already printed. This figure, however, includes new applications, the actual backlog being reduced by only 43 000 since 15 May.
According to the Department of Transport's spokesperson, Collen Msibi, Gauteng has the highest number of outstanding cards (232 364), followed by KwaZulu-Natal (104 021), the Western Cape (91 668), Mpumalanga (67 628), Limpopo (63 514), North-West (40 436) and Free State (30 161).
Since then, according to the Western Cape Mobility Department's head of communication, Muneera Allie, as of Monday 9 June, a total of 45 120 cards were produced for the Western Cape. "The balance as at 9 June was 63 282 cards of the original backlog," she says.
In response to the crisis, the Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA) has implemented extended working hours, with staff now working 14-hour shifts to produce between 14 000 and 19 000 cards per shift.
The department says steady progress is being made and it has committed itself to providing regular updates as the backlog is addressed.
Despite these efforts, many motorists are still experiencing delays of six to eight weeks before receiving SMS notifications to collect their new cards.
Motorists planning to travel across South Africa's borders may rest assured that a temporary driving licence will suffice for their journey. "There shouldn't be any hindrance in terms of crossing the border," Msibi said.
A temporary driving licence is valid for six months or until the motorist receives their new or replacement licence card. Importantly, these licences are issued on the same day of application, providing an immediate solution for those whose cards are still pending.
Until the backlog is cleared, temporary driving licences remain essential for affected motorists. The public is urged to check the status of their applications regularly via the eNatis portal or by visiting their local licensing office.
Meanwhile, civil society organisation Outa (the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse) has called for urgent reforms. With the backlog expected to take several months to clear, Outa is urging the Department of Transport to suspend fines for expired cards and to extend the validity of temporary licences until the situation stabilises.
The department has advised that those who applied for a renewal before their existing licence expired should carry the receipt in their vehicle as proof of application.
With estimates suggesting the backlog could take between four and 13 months to fully resolve, Outa has formally appealed to Transport Minister Barbara Creecy to waive penalties and extend the validity of temporary licences for those affected.
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