Department drops penalties for use of expired licences

THE Transport Department has bowed to pressure from advocacy groups by waiving fees associated with temporary driving licence cards and halting penalties for motorists caught driving with expired licences.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA [e-mail]

The decision comes as many motorists find themselves awaiting the renewal of their driving licences amidst significant backlogs in production after the department's card printing machine broke down in February.

Lobby group, Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse, has been arguing that fining motorists who are still waiting for their renewed card licences was unfair.

Minister Barbara Creecy said the backlog stood at 635,976 as at June 23, down from 733 000 when its card production machine became operational in May.

Creecy said the card production facility has, since the machine became operational, embarked on working overtime to wipe out the backlog.

"The facility, with the support of the department, is in the process of obtaining approval from the Department of Public Service and Administration for additional overtime work hours for 24 hours a day to catch up on the backlog," she said.

Creecy was responding to parliamentary questions posed by EFF MP Omphile Maotwe.