Creecy proposes 8-year driver's licences as major backlog challenges continue

MINISTER of Transport Barbara Creecy has revealed plans to introduce eight-year driver's licences for ordinary South Africans. Meanwhile, commercial drivers will still need to renew their licences every two years for safety reasons.

- MTHOBISI NOZULELA

MINISTER of Transport Barbara Creecy has indicated that ordinary South Africans could soon enjoy eight-year driver's licences. | GCIS

This comes as South Africa struggles with substantial backlogs in issuing driver's licences, a situation exacerbated by ageing equipment and reliance on a single card-printing machine.

Answering questions before the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) , the minister said a study conducted before her appointment recommended different renewal periods for commercial and ordinary drivers, which forms the basis of the proposed eight-year validity.