South African motorists are currently navigating a tumultuous period in road administration, marked by crippling backlogs, political delays, and intense confusion surrounding the cost of staying legal on the road. The central point of contention revolves around the temporary driving licence (TDL) fee, which the Department of Transport (DoT) promised to waive amidst the ongoing crisis, yet many drivers are still being forced to pay.

This article provides critical, up-to-date information on the driving licence card disaster, explains who actually qualifies for a fee waiver, and outlines the precise steps required to apply for a temporary licence.

The Core Crisis: A System Breaking Down

The national driving licence card system in South Africa is struggling under the weight of an ageing infrastructure and stalled modernization plans.

The current system relies on a single, 26-year-old licence card printer that has become increasingly unreliable. This machine has broken down at least 160 times in its lifetime, leading to significant disruption. A major breakdown between 5 February and 8 May 2025 caused the production backlog to peak at nearly 760,000 cards.

As of August 2025, the backlog was still hovering around 540,000 cards. Despite the Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA) running the machine 24 hours a day with overtime to boost production from 7,440 cards daily to as many as 22,320, demand remains higher than output. Experts calculate that clearing the existing backlog of 539,947 licences would take over eight months, assuming the old machine continues running without another major breakdown.

The Confusion Reigning Over the R72 Temporary Licence Fee

To ease motorist frustration caused by the extreme delays—with turnaround times stretching to eight or nine weeks, compared to the standard two weeks—the Department of Transport initially announced measures to assist drivers. These included waiving penalties for expired licences and waiving fees for temporary driving licence cards.

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy stated in Parliament in June 2025 that the R72 fee for temporary driving licences would be scrapped. Department of Transport spokesperson Collen Msibi confirmed this decision to waive the R72 fee was made on 27 June 2025. Creecy even reiterated this decision in Parliament as recently as September 2025.

The Reality: Fees Still Apply for Most

Despite these assurances, civil action group AfriForum confirmed in October 2025 that the R72 fee for temporary licences still applies for most motorists. This was corroborated by the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s (RTMC) national call centre via telephone and email, as well as two licence renewal centres in Gauteng.

The DoT has since clarified that the fee exemption is only available to motorists who meet three strict conditions:

1. Their licence expired during the period when the driving licence printer had broken down (between 5 February and 8 May 2025).

2. They applied for a temporary licence within three months of their licence card expiring.

3. They applied for a temporary licence after the fee exemption took effect on 23 July 2025.

Motorists falling outside these narrow conditions must still pay the standard R72 fee. AfriForum criticized the Minister, suggesting she was misleading the public by claiming the fee was scrapped when it had not been universally implemented, and the organisation is now considering legal action to enforce the full waiver.

Essential Information for South African Motorists

1. Applying for a Temporary Driving Licence (TDL)

You can apply for a temporary driving licence if you have applied for the renewal of an expired licence or if you have lost your driver’s licence. The TDL is issued on the same day.

Key Requirements and Steps:

• Location: Go to the nearest driving licence testing centre (DLTC). Gauteng residents are encouraged to apply online via the eNatis platform.

• Validity: The temporary licence is valid for six months.

• Cost: Contact your local licensing office for the cost, as the waiver only applies if you meet the three strict conditions (expired between 5 Feb and 8 May 2025, applied within three months of expiry, and applied after 23 July 2025).

• Documents needed:

    ◦ Certified copy of your identity document (ID) or temporary ID.

    ◦ Proof of postal and residential address (e.g., utility account). If the utility bill is not in your name, the owner must provide an affidavit confirming you live there, attached to the utility bill.

    ◦ If residing in an informal settlement, a letter with an official date stamp from the ward councillor confirming your address is required.

    ◦ Four identical black-and-white photographs (confirm the number required with the DLTC first).

    ◦ The prescribed fee (unless you meet the waiver criteria).

• Forms: Complete the Application for a driving licence (DL1) form and the Notification of change of address or particulars of person or organisation (NCP) form.

• Eye Test: You will undergo an eye test at the testing centre, or you can submit a form from a qualified optometrist.

2. Using Expired and Temporary Licences for Identification

If you are waiting for your new card, your expired licence card is considered valid for driving for up to three months after its expiry date, provided the renewal application was submitted before the card expired.

If production takes longer than three months past the expiry date, a temporary licence (valid for six months) is required.

Crucially, the Department of Transport issued an instruction in late September 2025 for airlines in South Africa to accept expired and temporary licences as valid forms of identity. This is acceptable only if the holder can produce the receipt to prove they have applied for a new driving licence card. A temporary licence can still be used for identification even if it expires before the new card renewal is completed, provided you retain the proof of application.

Why the Modernization Plan is Dead in the Water

The chaos surrounding renewals and temporary fees is a symptom of a larger governance failure concerning the country’s inability to procure new printing technology.

The long-term solution involves introducing new, more secure cards and procuring three new printing machines that would be maintained and repaired domestically, unlike the current system.

However, the R900 million contract awarded to a company earlier in the year has been pulled into an investigation by the Auditor-General (AGSA) over irregularities. These flaws included:

• An increase in cost from the initial Cabinet-approved budget of R486 million to the signed contract of R898 million.

• Evaluation errors in scoring and machine assessments.

• A controversial delegation visit to countries like France and Amsterdam, despite the correct machine models being located in the Czech Republic, Greece, Morocco, and Burkina Faso.

Following the AGSA findings, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy announced that the department had approached the High Court for a declaratory order on the tender to ensure no further irregular spending occurred. Until the court provides clarity, the procurement of the new machines remains on indefinite hold.

The DLCA’s own annual performance plan shows that the launch of the new driving licence cards is still years away, targeting only 25% implementation in the 2026/27 financial year and 75% in 2027/28. If demand continues to grow and the current single machine breaks down further, delays could stretch into the second half of 2026.

Motorists are advised to heed the criteria for the fee waiver and ensure they keep all documentation, especially renewal receipts, handy to avoid unnecessary fees or issues with identification