South Africa’s driving licence card system is stuck because it depends on one old, often broken machine that prints all the cards. When the machine stopped working, hundreds of thousands of drivers were left waiting for their licences, causing big problems for daily life and road safety. Bureaucratic delays and outdated processes make fixing the problem slow and frustrating. While workers push hard to catch up, the country needs new technology and better planning to finally solve this long-lasting crisis.
What is causing the driving licence card backlog in South Africa?
South Africa’s driving licence card backlog is caused by reliance on a single aging card printing machine prone to breakdowns, bureaucratic delays in replacing it, and outdated systems. This results in long wait times, impacting drivers, law enforcement, and road safety nationwide.
The Heart of the Problem: A Fragile Machine
Inside a modest facility in Pretoria stands a machine whose significance far outweighs its outward appearance. For twenty-five years, the Driving Licence Card Agency has relied on this aging device to produce every driver’s licence card in South Africa. This essential piece of equipment, after a prolonged breakdown, currently works overtime, playing catch-up for a nation dependent on its output.
On January 4, the hum of production came to an abrupt halt. The resulting silence extended far beyond the agency’s walls, affecting hundreds of thousands of South Africans who suddenly found themselves unable to receive new or renewed driving licences. By May, the backlog reached a staggering 747,000 unprinted cards. Collen Msibi, spokesperson for the Department of Transport, explained that the agency ramped up operations, enabling the machine to produce between 14,000 and 19,000 cards in a grueling 14-hour shift. Staff put in extra hours in a race against mounting requests, yet new applications arrived daily, multiplying the challenge.
Wayne Duvenage, head of the civil society group OUTA, captured widespread anxiety by asking, “When is it going to break down again?” This unease is well-founded—the machine has failed nearly 160 times during its lifetime. Each failure disrupts society, affecting not just individual drivers but also the broader economy, law enforcement, and public trust in essential services.
A System Strained by Inertia and Bureaucracy
This lone, overworked card printing machine has become emblematic of a deeper issue: the persistence of outdated systems in public institutions. Although the need for modernisation is obvious, the machinery continues to limp along, much as relics of the industrial revolution did in the face of better alternatives. Here, history seems to repeat itself, as public administration clings to old methods in the face of growing inefficiency.
The Department of Transport made an attempt to replace the creaking printer by awarding a new tender in September last year. However, this effort quickly unravelled when the Auditor-General’s office flagged serious irregularities in the procurement process. Minister Barbara Creecy sought a court order to suspend the contract and restore order to the process. This legal action, while necessary for transparency, left the country once again at the mercy of its single, unreliable machine.
In the meantime, officials scrambled for interim solutions. Msibi described a temporary fix as a “better solution while we wait for the court decision,” a phrase that captures the stopgap mentality that often characterises crisis management in the public sector. This approach, born of necessity, underscores both an ability to adapt and a sense of frustration—traits familiar to many South Africans who must navigate these bureaucratic hurdles in their daily lives.
Backlogs, Bottlenecks, and Real-World Impact
The statistics tell a daunting story. Gauteng faces the largest waitlist, with more than 252,000 drivers waiting for their cards. KwaZulu-Natal’s queue exceeds 115,000, and the Western Cape waits for upwards of 108,000 cards. Even less populous provinces, like the Northern Cape, deal with thousands still stuck in limbo. These numbers represent real people—commuters unable to get to work, parents unable to legally drive their children, and entrepreneurs whose livelihoods depend on valid licences.
Johan Jonck from Arrive Alive highlights the safety implications: “We have too many unlicensed drivers on our roads contributing to road crashes.” The ripple effect hits law enforcement hard. Traffic officers, already stretched thin, must decide how to handle a growing number of drivers, not all of whom are outlaws, but who find themselves without valid cards due to circumstances beyond their control. This blurring of the line between lawful and unlawful drivers makes the roads less safe for everyone.
The bottleneck exposes a deeper friction between South Africa’s ambitions for efficient, responsive government and the challenges of overcoming bureaucratic inertia. The licensing system, in its current form, cannot keep pace with the demands of a modern society. Remarkably, a 2013 government proposal to extend the validity period for driving licences from five to ten years could have eased the pressure on the system dramatically. For reasons officials never explained, the proposal was quietly shelved. Revisiting this idea could provide both immediate relief and a long-term solution to the recurring crisis.
Lessons from the Past, Hope for the Future
South Africa’s driving licence card dilemma echoes larger historical patterns. The Soviet Union, for example, became known for its stubborn use of outdated equipment, maintaining operations long past their effective lifespans due to bureaucratic delays and a reluctance to embrace change. Similarly, South Africa’s extended reliance on its lone, aging printer signals a need to break free from the grip of institutional inertia.
Yet, the crisis has revealed the commitment of those working within the system. Agency employees, now working extended shifts, show remarkable resolve. Their efforts echo the stories of workers in the early industrial era, coaxing every ounce of productivity from unreliable machinery. Their determination to maintain South Africa’s mobility, despite constant setbacks, highlights a spirit of endurance that defines the nation.
The licensing backlog also casts a spotlight on the interplay between technology and public administration. Private enterprises regularly upgrade their systems to remain competitive, but government agencies must balance innovation with transparency and regulatory compliance. The failed replacement tender illustrates the risks of mismanaging this balancing act. A more open, accountable process could unlock opportunities for widespread renewal—not just for card printing equipment but for the entire licensing infrastructure.
Digital solutions present a promising way forward. Countries like Estonia and Singapore have moved to electronic licences, seamlessly integrating driving credentials with digital identity systems. These innovations reduce dependence on physical cards and obsolete hardware, streamline renewals, and combat fraud. With its proven capacity for technological innovation in banking and other sectors, South Africa could adapt such models for its own needs.
The saga of the South African licence card machine lays bare the ongoing struggle between outdated practices and the drive for progress. Each story—of drivers waiting endless months, of law enforcement improvising on the fly, of families adjusting their routines—adds depth to this unfolding narrative. It is a daily test of patience, ingenuity, and collective will, with every South African awaiting the moment when the gears of bureaucracy finally mesh with the pace of modern life.
What is causing the driving licence card backlog in South Africa?
The backlog is primarily caused by South Africa’s reliance on a single, aging card printing machine that frequently breaks down. This machine produces all the country’s driving licence cards and has suffered nearly 160 failures during its lifetime. Bureaucratic delays, outdated systems, and failed attempts to replace the machine further worsen the problem, leading to long queues and delays for hundreds of thousands of drivers nationwide.
How has the breakdown of the card printing machine affected drivers?
When the machine stopped working on January 4, production of driving licence cards came to a halt, leaving around 747,000 licences unprinted by May. Drivers have experienced long delays in obtaining or renewing their licences, affecting their ability to commute, work, and conduct daily activities legally. This situation has also increased the number of unlicensed drivers on the road, posing safety risks and complicating law enforcement efforts.
Why hasn’t the card printing machine been replaced yet?
An attempt to replace the printer was made in September of the previous year through a new tender process. However, the Auditor-General identified serious irregularities in the procurement, forcing the Department of Transport to seek a court order to suspend the contract and ensure transparency. This legal and bureaucratic process has delayed the replacement, leaving the country dependent on the unreliable existing machine.
What impact does the backlog have on road safety and law enforcement?
The backlog increases the number of drivers without valid licence cards, even though many are not intentionally breaking the law. This blurs the line between legal and illegal drivers, making it harder for traffic officers to enforce regulations fairly. Road safety is compromised because unlicensed drivers may be less aware of traffic laws or less likely to have undergone proper testing. The strain on law enforcement resources is a growing concern.
Are there any proposed or potential long-term solutions to this crisis?
Yes. One long-overdue proposal from 2013 suggested extending licence validity from five to ten years, which could reduce renewal demand and ease pressure on the printing system. Digital transformation is another promising path. Countries like Estonia and Singapore use electronic licences linked to digital identities, reducing dependence on physical cards and hardware. South Africa, with its advanced tech sectors, could adopt similar innovations alongside improved procurement transparency and updated infrastructure.
What are officials and workers doing to manage the situation currently?
To address the backlog, the existing machine has been running extended shifts—often 14 hours a day—to catch up on printing demands. Staff have shown remarkable commitment by working overtime and adapting to the crisis. Meanwhile, officials continue to seek interim solutions while navigating legal hurdles related to replacing the equipment. This stopgap approach reflects both resilience and frustration as the agency works under difficult circumstances.
