Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa have welcomed Cabinet's decision to approve the extension of the validity period of driving licences for Codes A, A1, B and EB from five to ten years.
The ten-year renewal period will apply only to light motor vehicles. Heavy commercial and public transport vehicles will remain subject to the existing five-year renewal cycle and the Professional Driving Permits to the existing two-year cycle.
The Department of Transport points out that the extension of the validity period of driving licences follows a study undertaken by the Road Traffic Management Corporation, which recommended that the extension of validity period will align with international best practice, enhance administrative efficiency, reduce the frequency of renewals for motorists and ease service demand pressures within the licensing system.
The extension will only take effect once legislative amendments are implemented and motorists have been urged to continue renewing expired driving licence cards until the amended legislation takes effect.
Civil society organisation Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has also welcomed the announcement, with CEO Wayne Duvenage saying government has finally accepted that forcing motorists through an inefficient renewal system every five years wastes time and money without making our roads safer.
