Kaya 959 News Reporter
Minister Fikile Mbalula will present a new driver’s licence card machine to Cabinet.
This is the Department of Transport’s solution to the backlog of issuing driver’s licence cards.
According to Mbalula, the backlog happened because the machine used to create the cards broke while the department was in the process of doing away with it.
It was since sent back to the manufacturer in Germany for repairs.
“It is being fixed as we speak. We have already taken it to Germany but in the interim, we will introduce new measures on what will happen (sic),” said Mbalula.
The decision to do away with the old machine was made because it is outdated.
It is also no longer in use by any other country.
The new machine is described as being on par with the developed world.
The department will introduce the machine once Cabinet approves it.
The minister also confirmed that online payments for motor vehicle licence renewal, driving licence card renewal, learner’s licence tests and driving licence tests will happen soon.
“The interface of live enrolment units with Home Affairs has been completed. This will enable the immediate validation of fingerprints and addresses. We are working with the HPCSA [Health Professions Council of South Africa] to enable optometrists to upload eye tests on our systems,” he said.
Read Next: Taxi Relief Fund: Mbalula sets aside R1,1 billion for taxi operators



