Quick facts about the backlog in the issuing of driver’s licences 

539 947 = backlog in the issuing of licence cards (mid-August)

1 = number of licence card printers available to the Department of Transport

2 187 = number of licence cards per day being caught up since end of May

8 months = how long it will take to catch up on the backlog at the current rate (if the licence card printer remains in a functional state all the time)

160 = number of times the printer has failed

92 = number of days the licence card printer has been out of service in 2025

26 years = age of the department’s only licence card printer

10–11 years = original indicated operational lifetime of the licence card printer

5 years = validity period of driver’s licences in South Africa

8–10 years = international norm for the validity period of driver’s licences (according to the department’s own research)

R898 million = value of the contract initially awarded to Idemia SA (but now set aside) to print new licence cards in South Africa

AfriForum insists on three urgent solutions:

1. More than one new licence card printer must be purchased at an affordable price. 
2. The validity period for licence cards must be extended to eight and ten years (based on international norms).
3. While there is a backlog, temporary licences should be issued free of charge.

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