The chaos at Driving Licence Test Centres (DLTCs) has led to calls for the validity of expired driver’s licence cards to be extended and a moratorium implemented to prevent motorists with expired licence cards from being fined.
There have also been calls for the validity period of driver’s licence cards to be extended from five to 10 years and for the renewal of driver’s licence cards to be outsourced to other entities.
Justice Project South Africa chair Howard Dembovsky said the situation at DLTCs “is a complete and utter disaster”.
He said the situation in Gauteng, where they have an online booking system that does not work, has exacerbated the problem.
Apart from motorists trying to pursue relief from the courts, there is “pretty much nothing motorists can do”, he added.
But Dembovsky said motorists need to bear in mind that just because their driver’s licence card has expired, it does not mean they are not licenced to drive.
“A driving licence card is not a driving licence. It’s proof that you hold a driving licence.
Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula on July 22 extended the validity period of all learner’s licences, driving licence cards, temporary driving licences and professional driving permits that expired during the period from March 26 to August 31 for a further grace period up until the end of January 2021. Anyone whose driver’s licence expired in September 2020 and onwards is thus not covered by the grace period.
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