South Africa – South African motorists are a step closer to having driving licence cards that are valid for 10 years, following Cabinet approval and the publication of draft regulations for public comment.
As reported by Daily Investor, Cabinet approved in July the extension of the validity period for light motor vehicle and motorcycle licence cards from five to 10 years.
The change applies to licence codes A, A1, B and EB, covering motorcycles and light motor vehicles.
The Department of Transport said the reform was based on a study by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), which found that extending the validity period would align South Africa with international practice, reduce the frequency of renewals and ease pressure on the licensing system.
However, motorists should not assume that their current five-year licences have automatically become 10-year licences.
The government stressed that existing licences must still be renewed when they expire until the new regulations formally take effect.
“The implementation of the extended validity period requires legislative amendments,” the Department of Transport said, adding: “Motorists must therefore continue to renew expired driving licence cards until the new law takes effect.”
Public consultation completed
The proposal subsequently moved forward when Transport Minister Barbara Creecy gazetted draft amendments to the National Road Traffic Regulations on 17 August.
According to IOL, the proposed regulations would make A, A1, B and EB licence cards valid for 10 years, while C1, C, EC1 and EC cards would remain valid for five years.
Professional Driving Permits would continue to have a two-year validity period.
MyBroadband reported that the 30-day public comment period ended in September, bringing the proposed change another step closer to implementation.
The Western Cape Government has also explained that the proposal would distinguish between the validity of the driving licence itself and the physical licence card. Under the draft regulations, the licence would remain valid indefinitely unless suspended or cancelled, while the physical card would need periodic replacement.
The move has been welcomed by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Transport, which said it should reduce pressure on driving licence testing centres.
“We welcome the news and hope that the intentions will be clear to motorists,” committee chairperson Donald Selamolela said.
The reform has also received support from the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), which has campaigned for a longer validity period since 2020.
OUTA CEO Wayne Duvenage described the decision as “a victory for motorists and for common sense”, arguing that forcing motorists to renew every five years creates unnecessary administrative costs without necessarily improving road safety.
What motorists need to know
For now, the five-year system remains in operation. The 10-year period will only apply once the necessary regulatory amendments have been finalised and brought into force.
The proposed system will cover:
- A and A1: motorcycles – 10 years
- B and EB: light motor vehicles – 10 years
- C1, C, EC1 and EC: heavy vehicles – five years
- Professional Driving Permits: two years
- Learner’s licences: two years
The reform is therefore expected to significantly reduce the number of times ordinary motorists have to visit licensing centres, while allowing authorities to focus more resources on higher-risk categories and other licensing-system pressures.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
