By: Natasha Archary
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has given motorists an extended renewal deadline of two weeks to renew their drivers’ licences.
Updating South Africans on the departments plans for the deadline of the Extension of Licence Validity, Mbalula said the decision was reached after consulting with MECS and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA).
Mbalula who is celebrating his birthday today, 1 April, said motorists who are not coming forward to renew their licenses have a variety of reasons.
Apart from the backlog at the licensing centres across the country, only 49% of motorists have expired licenses have applied for renewals.
The number of driving licence cards, falling in the category to whom the grace period applies, for which renewal applications have yet to be made, stands at 1,424,756. This is a reduction from 2,813,016.
In addition to the extended grace period, Mbalula detailed plans to have the validity time-frame of licences reviewed.
This means the department is undertaking research to determine if a move to licences being valid for a period of 10-years will work for the country.
Various countries in the continent have renewal periods that range from 2 to 5 years and a number of other countries require renewal at anything from 6 to 15 years.
Motorists now have until 15 April to renew their expired drivers licences.
Minister of Transport, Mr. Fikile Mbalula provides an update on the deadline for the Extension of Licence Validity. https://t.co/x9XYKizXJ3
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) April 1, 2022
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