New South African Driving Licence Card Approved

The South African Cabinet has approved the replacement of the current Driving Licence Card to a one with more secure design features. As announced by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula earlier this year, the current card will be phased out over a five-year period, with the government also looking at extending the renewal period of the card from five to ten years.

The current system – which has caused major problems when it broke down – has been in operation since 1998. In a statement on Thursday, Cabinet said the technology has since evolved and it is becoming expensive to maintain the current infrastructure.

“The new proposed card will make the country’s driving licence compatible with the International Information Technology Personal Identification Compliant Driving Licence (ISO18013),” Cabinet said.

In February, Mbalula had announced that his department plans to introduce a new driving licence card in South Africa from October 2023.

Minister Mbalula said the new card will feature a number of security enhancements and international recognition – meaning it can be used as a form of identification, similar to many other countries around the world.

Mbalula said that following cabinet approval, the Department of Transport will undergo a procurement process, with the new licence card expected to be piloted in October 2023. – SAnews.gov.za