Licences still up in air

VALID PERIOD: OUTA PREFERS IT TO BE 10 YEARS FOR WAITING MOTORISTS

- Roy Cokayne

Uncertainty still exists about whether the planned extension of the validity period of driving licences from five to eight years will become a reality.

Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy confirmed during a one-on-one interview with Moneyweb last week, her preference is that South Africa move to the international benchmark of eight years for the validity period of driving licences.

Creecy added: "This is a matter that was ventilated by my predecessor [Sindisiwe Chikunga] at Cabinet, but I have not taken a decision because there are financial implications from this decision.

"When I asked what are the financial implications, it was not clear so I asked for a study to be done so that I take a decision understanding the consequences intended and unintended - of my decision."

This is despite the department of transport's 2025/26 annual performance plan including submitting the extension of the validity period to parliament for endorsement by the fourth quarter of the financial year.

Creecy said the department's director-general has indicated to her they should have the results of the study on the financial implications by the end of the second quarter of the financial year.

Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) CEO Wayne Duvenage said they would prefer the validity period to be 10 years "but if it is eight years, it's better than five years".

He said Outa would also like the department to do a cost impact analysis of the five-year and eight-year renewal process.

An eight-year validity period will reduce the department's income by about 35% but it will also lead to an about 35% reduction in expenditure because less plastic will be used, fewer people will be required for inquiries about driving licences, and there will be fewer processes — which should also result in a 35% reduction in headcounts because you are producing 35% fewer cards, he said.