South African motorists are once again caught in a bureaucratic nightmare as nearly 60,000 driver’s licence card applications submitted in 2025 remain unfulfilled. The City of Cape Town has confirmed that despite having processed tens of thousands of applications for driver’s licence cards and Public Driving Permits this year, not a single physical card has been received from the Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA).

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The DLCA, a national agency based in Pretoria, is tasked with producing and distributing all driver’s licence cards across South Africa. However, a critical breakdown in their operations has thrown the entire system into disarray.

A Broken System

According to the City of Cape Town, the cause of the current crisis lies with the DLCA’s aging card-printing machine, which reportedly broke down again earlier this year. The printer, which had also failed in September 2024, has been out of commission since January 2025. Due to its age—around 25 years old—and the fact that it is the only one of its kind still functioning globally, repairs can only be carried out overseas. There’s no clear timeline for when it will be operational again.

“This national entity has yet to deliver a single card for the thousands of applications we’ve processed,” the City stated. “Until this issue is resolved, motorists must brace for continued delays.”

What This Means for Drivers

In light of the backlog, the City is advising motorists to retain their expired cards and to apply for temporary licences to avoid trouble with traffic authorities. According to regulations, you can legally drive with an expired card for up to three months—provided you can show proof that you applied for a replacement before the expiry date.

However, if your card had already expired by the time you submitted your application, you must also apply for a temporary driver’s licence and keep a copy of this documentation in your vehicle. Temporary licences are valid for six months or until your new card is issued—whichever comes first.

Failure to carry a valid licence card, whether permanent or temporary, can result in serious penalties. In cities like Tshwane and Johannesburg, this offence can lead to a R2,000 fine and the addition of three demerit points under the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act.

Not a New Problem

This isn’t the first time South African drivers have been affected by DLCA issues. The agency has long relied on a single, outdated printing machine to handle the entire nation’s demand for licence cards. This fragile setup has caused multiple renewal crises over the years, with delays becoming a regular frustration for motorists.

Plans were in motion to modernize the system in 2025 with the introduction of new licence cards and several new machines. However, that rollout has now been paused following a probe into irregularities in the tender process. Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy has since approached the High Court to determine how best to proceed.

Whether the current tender is scrapped or upheld, delays appear inevitable. Should the tender be cancelled, the Department of Transport will need to restart the lengthy procurement process. If it moves ahead with the current provider, Idemia Identity and Security, legal challenges are expected to follow.

Public Outcry

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has officially contacted Minister Creecy, demanding answers on the DLCA’s ongoing failures and questioning why the machine remains out of service despite previous repairs and maintenance contracts.

“Motorists are once again being subjected to delays and inconvenience due to the ongoing failures of this outdated system,” Outa said in a statement. “The Department must explain why the machine is not operational and provide clarity on long-term solutions.”

Looking Ahead

Until new systems are in place and operational, South African motorists will continue to face frustration and uncertainty when it comes to renewing their driver’s licences. With 60,000 pending applications and no cards in sight, the spotlight is firmly on the DLCA and the Department of Transport to deliver a sustainable fix to a long-standing problem.