Transport Department Recognizes Ongoing License Backlog Challenges

https://iframe.iono.fm/e/1590631?layout=modern” width=”100%” height=”170″ frameborder=”0

You can also listen to this podcast on iono.fm here.

JEREMY MAGGS: The issue of driver’s licence backlog in South Africa is significant. The department reports that around 500,000 cards are still pending, following a malfunction of the single card printer from 1998, which was out of commission from February until its restoration in May.

The current processing time is approximately two months, but the government hopes to clear the backlog by December. Motorists are given a three-month grace period if they can present proof of application. However, some sources indicate that delays might extend into the next year.

Let’s explore this further. We are joined by Collen Msibi from the transport ministry. Collen, can you give us the exact number regarding the backlog and how it differs across provinces?

COLLEN MSIBI: Thank you for having us, Jeremy. I confirm that the present backlog is 539,000 cards awaiting printing. Up until August 11, we had successfully printed around 834,000 cards from this backlog, although this number might have increased since then.

Read: R898m driving licence card machine tender award ‘irregular’ – AG audit

The backlog is continuously rising; it initially began at 733,000 cards and currently stands at 500,000. The issue is compounded by over 10,000 new applications submitted daily, making it challenging to balance the backlog with incoming requests.

JEREMY MAGGS: Your target of clearing this by 2025 seems quite ambitious. What supports this timeline? Is there a backup plan in place if the machine malfunctions again?

COLLEN MSIBI: We aim to clear the backlog by December and will provide regular monthly updates. We have a contingency plan—I’m in discussions with the Department of Home Affairs, and we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for an interim solution, as announced by the minister.

We are optimistic that this will allow us to address the issue effectively. This plan aims to ensure we have a backup should our current machine encounter problems again.

Once implemented, we believe we’ll transition to this interim solution and mitigate the difficulties caused by our current machine.

JEREMY MAGGS: Returning to the machine, you noted the receipt of 10,000 new applications each day. With the MoU with Home Affairs, do you think the clearance target is realistic?

COLLEN MSIBI: Our latest analysis indicates the expected waiting time for motorists has shifted from four to six weeks to now at least six to eight weeks. This reflects our daily application numbers, which can sometimes spike to 14,000.

Therefore, it’s essential to be transparent with the public and continuously evaluate if our December target remains achievable.

This is why it’s important for us to keep appearing on your platform to provide updates.

JEREMY MAGGS: Do you believe this situation is under control?

COLLEN MSIBI: We remain cautiously optimistic. While we have some degree of control, our main hurdle is the age of the machine—it’s 28 years old—making it challenging to find replacement parts when it breaks down. For instance, when it failed on February 5, we initially looked for parts domestically but ultimately had to source them from abroad.

Read: Validity period of driving licences still uncertain

Thus, we are cautiously optimistic. If another failure occurs, sourcing parts becomes uncertain, complicating claims of total control over this machine. We must acknowledge our limitations realistically.

JEREMY MAGGS: It’s surprising that you still rely on a single machine from 1998, without a backup after all these years.

COLLEN MSIBI: Indeed. We first faced machine issues during the Covid period, which led us to approach Cabinet in August 2022 for a new machine. The tender process commenced in November 2022, but we faced difficulties in finding a suitable service provider, prompting us to restart the process in April 2023.

This situation has resulted in legal action due to irregularities found during the tender process.

Read:
DoT urged to pause driving licence card machine procurement [Sep 2024]
Concerns over transparency regarding new licence card machine tender [Jun 2024]
Tourism body claims DoT has not resolved vehicle operating licence backlog [Aug 2022]

When issues arose, we took action. It is challenging to retrospectively account for previous times, knowing that one malfunctioning machine could lead to significant problems. At least we began addressing the situation in 2022. Now, we are involved in court proceedings, which may take time, preventing us from advancing with any service providers while these irregularities are investigated.

This will ultimately lead to the acquisition of more machines. While they may not be identical to our current model, there will certainly be a legitimate backup with improved planning. The flaws in the DLCA process require this legal review to reassess our options.

JEREMY MAGGS: As it stands, the backlog will continue to grow.

COLLEN MSIBI: Unfortunately, the backlog will indeed keep increasing. However, we are hopeful that our current machine will operate without issues, and we believe the interim solution with Home Affairs is progressing well. We anticipate announcing this soon, hoping it will help mitigate the backlog as we navigate the uncertainties of the court process.

JEREMY MAGGS: Thank you for your insights. That’s Collen Msibi from the transport ministry.

Stay updated with Moneyweb’s comprehensive finance and business news on WhatsApp here.