Driver’s license cards will be going through a major change this year. Both in its look and its function.
What will change?
This year, the Department of Transport is shaking things up with driver’s license cards. However, the roll-out of the new cards is only expected to be issued by November 2023. That is if all plans go ahead for traffic minister Fikile Mbalula.
The changes come after the current driver’s license cards are no longer fitting to international standards. In essence, this means that the cards currently being used in South Africa are outdated.
Some new security features of driver’s license cards include biometric data, holograms, and watermarks. The new features will be implemented to prohibit counterfeit cards from being made and the new cards will be able to hold more data.
Longer renewal periods
Apart from this, the driver’s license cards will also be valid for a longer period of time. Which is in contrast to the current five-year renewal rule. For the new cards, the validity period will be as long as eight years. Motorists will therefore visit their traffic departments less often.
Over the years, the renewal period has come under scrutiny by organizations such as the Democratic Alliance and Afriforum. Their opposition was motivated by the fact that other countries had longer renewal periods.
Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula defended this choice by relaying that the validity period was in line with how long the cards would last.
In recent years, the roll-out of driver’s license cards has been delayed extensively. That is, due to the breakdown of the card printing machine. The new card system also comes as a result of this issue in South Africa.
Online driver’s license renewals and bookings
In parts of Gauteng last year, the smart booking system was trialed and allowed drivers to renew their driver’s licenses through an online system. The system directly links with the Department of Home Affairs to make sure that the driver’s photo, fingerprints, and other information are recognized in real time.
Thus far, the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s website eNatis has already added the ability to book and pay for a license card renewal. Provinces such as Gauteng and Eastern Cape have already rolled out this feature.
However, while these facilities are available online, motorists will still have to visit their driver’s license testing center for fingerprint capturing and eye tests. The department is currently looking to collaborate with optometrists to allow users to submit their eye tests online.
Source: My Broadband