South Africa’s only driver’s licence card printer machine has suffered yet another breakdown, halting the production of new licence cards and leaving thousands of motorists waiting. The Department of Transport (DoT) has confirmed that repair work is currently underway.

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Cape Town Highlights Growing Backlog

The situation came into the spotlight after the City of Cape Town revealed it had processed over 60,000 driver’s licence and public driving permit applications this year — but has yet to receive a single card from the Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA), the Pretoria-based agency responsible for manufacturing and distributing the cards.

Cause of Delay Confirmed by Transport Department

At first, the DLCA did not disclose the reason behind the delays, sparking speculation among frustrated motorists. The Department of Transport later clarified that the root cause was a technical failure in the country’s sole licence card printer.

“The Department is exploring various interim solutions to sustain the operations of the current machine, given its age,” said DoT spokesperson Collen Msibi.

Temporary Licences Issued to Ease the Impact

To help reduce the backlog’s impact on motorists, Msibi confirmed that temporary licences are being issued while the machine remains out of service. These temporary documents are valid for six months and offer a short-term solution for drivers who would otherwise be left stranded. Motorists are urged to apply for these temporary licences as soon as possible to remain legally compliant while waiting for the backlog to clear.

Recurring Breakdown Problem

This is far from the first time the ageing printer has disrupted the system. The same machine, which has been in operation for over 25 years, has broken down multiple times in recent years, causing repeated backlogs and delays.

In March 2025, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy addressed the ongoing disruptions, confirming efforts to “resume printing” — a clear indication that the printer was, once again, offline at that time.

Repairs Delayed by Overseas Dependencies

The City of Cape Town also stressed that the specialised nature of the printer means any major repairs can only be performed abroad, further complicating the situation and making it difficult to predict when the backlog will be cleared.

New Printer Procurement Hit by Tender Controversy

While the government had plans to replace the ageing printer, these efforts have been derailed by procurement irregularities. An audit conducted by the Auditor-General flagged several procedural flaws, including:

An inadequate budget analysis during the planning phase
Evaluation criteria not being followed during the bid review
Inconsistent scoring methods applied to competing bids

As a result, the Auditor-General recommended the cancellation and re-issue of the tender. However, the Department’s legal team warned that this would not only incur a costly cancellation penalty — payable to the contracted company, Idemia — but also delay the arrival of a new machine even further.

What Motorists Should Do

For now, the advice from Cape Town and national authorities is clear: motorists should apply for a temporary licence if their permanent card has not been delivered. Expired licences, alongside a valid temporary one, may help avoid fines, but driving without a valid document could lead to a R2,000 fine and three demerit points, as per the AARTO Act.

A Waiting Game for South African Drivers

Until repairs are completed or a new printer is successfully installed, the printing of driver’s licence cards will remain at a standstill — leaving both motorists and licensing offices in a holding pattern, and adding further strain to an already stretched system. For now, frustrated motorists will have to rely on temporary documents and patience, as no clear timeline has been given for when normal card production will resume.”