Driver’s licence printer going at ‘full steam’ despite ‘challenges’ – department

The Department of Transport denied that the only driver’s licence printing machine has broken down again, in a statement. The last time the machine broke in November 2021, South Africa faced a massive backlog.

DRIVER’S LICENCE PRINTING MACHINE NOT BROKEN, SAYS DEPARTMENT

MyBroadband reported that the driver’s licence printer has been broken for approximately two weeks, according to a high-ranking official in the Eastern Cape transport department.

The story was picked up by other media outlets and sparked reactions from politicians and civil society groups alike. The Organisation for Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), once again called for the validity of driver’s licence cards to be extended to 10 years from five.

“The machine is reported to have not been working for two weeks now, and there is an indication that processes are underway to ensure that by the end of this week, it is operational,” said Eastern Cape’s Acting Chief Director for Transport Regulations, Xolisa Jakula to MyBroadband.

The transport department said the driver’s licence printing machine is in full operation and motorists “can be assured that there will be no delays in printing and issuing of their driving licence cards.”

The department, however, conceded that the machine has been bugged by “power outage challenges coupled with routine maintenance and the replacement of components.” Presumably, this means the printer was out of order for a period of time.

The department referred to last year’s breakdown as a “glitch in the recent past” that resulted in a backlog of cards. As previously reported, at its height, the driver’s licence backlog was over 383 000 cards. Since then, the department said, the machine has been constantly monitored and maintained.

“We are happy to announce, beyond any doubt, that the driving licence card production machine is operating at full steam.

“As stated before the machine is able to print over 300 000 licence cards in a month, so there is no backlog and we are going to keep it that way,” said Minister Fikile Mbalula.

Mbalula said the printing machine may experience “glitches” at some point.

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