SA’s only driver’s licence printing machine breaks down again

South Africa’s only driver’s licence printing machine has reportedly been broken for approximately two weeks.

Oct 20, 2022 - 11:56
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SA’s only driver’s licence printing machine breaks down again

South Africa’s only driver’s licence printing machine has reportedly broken down again. The last time it broke – at the end of 2021 – a backlog of over 300 000 cards followed.

READ: ‘Here are your cards’: SA’s only license printing machine is back in action [watch]

DRIVER’S LICENCE PRINTING MACHINE WOES

According to MyBroadband, the Eastern Cape’s Acting Chief Director for Transport Regulations, Xolisa Jakula, said the licence printing machine has been out of order for approximately two weeks.

“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,” he said.

Jakula further told the publication that the government was hoping to have the machine up and running by the end of the week. The last time it broke was in November 2021 and it was only repaired at the end of January this year.

In light of the news, 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. This is “so that the backlog and chaos can be sorted out once and for all.”

Meanwhile, in the Western Cape, Mobility MEC Daylin Mitchell took the opportunity to call for driver’s licence printing to be devolved to individual provinces. He told IOL he will talk to the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, about the possibility of devolution.

“It is a highly frustrating situation, which adds to the current backlog and affects people negatively. This is why we have to re-align our government to solve the problems that our citizens face, mainly owing to the failings of national government,” he said.

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