Who and what is AfriForum?

AfriForum is an Afrikaans civil rights organisation that protects the rights of minority groups at national as well as provincial level, and anyone who can identify with AfriForum’s principles and objectives may join the organisation. AfriForum’s community plan focuses on mobilising communities to thus take control of their own streets and neighbourhoods again. AfriForum ensures that your constitutional and civil rights are recognised and protected at national level.

Wie en wat is AfriForum?

AfriForum is ’n Afrikaanse burgerregteorganisasie wat die regte van minderheidsgroepe op sowel nasionale as provinsiale vlak beskerm, en enigiemand wat met AfriForum se beginsels en doelstellings kan identifiseer, mag by die organisasie aansluit. AfriForum se gemeenskapsplan fokus daarop om gemeenskappe te mobiliseer om só weer beheer terug te neem oor hul eie strate en woonbuurtes. AfriForum verseker dat jou grondwetlike én burgerregte op nasionale vlak erken en beskerm word.

Regulations for 10-year driver's licences must be implemented without delay, says AfriForum

Soundbite: Louis Boshoff (English)

AfriForum comments on Draft National Road Traffic Amendment Regulations Download

AfriForum today submitted comments on the draft amendments of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2000, which stipulate that certain categories of driving licences will in future be valid for 10 years. Although AfriForum supports the amendments, the civil rights organisation believes that these regulations must be implemented without any further delay.

“These draft regulations are a step in the right direction, but it is important that the decision be implemented as soon as possible so that other challenges relating to driver licensing can receive attention,” says Louis Boshoff, AfriForum spokesperson.

AfriForum did, however, point out in its comments that the regulations could be expanded to include all codes. The draft amendments to articles 100, 101 and 108 of the relevant regulations provide, among other things, that new licence cards for categories A1, A, B and EB will in future be valid for 10 years. Those for categories C1, C, EC1 and EC will continue to be valid for only five years. In practice, this means that licence cards for drivers of motorcycles and vehicles weighing less than 3 500 kg, with or without a trailer, will be included in the new validity period, while the validity period for licence cards for heavier vehicles will remain unchanged.

AfriForum believes that the requirements relating to professional driving permits (PrDPs) make provision for drivers who transport passengers or goods for payment to have their eyesight tested more frequently than drivers of family cars. Continuing to limit heavy vehicle licences to a validity period of only five years will discourage many people from obtaining the necessary training to drive heavy vehicles.

“It would be detrimental to the South African economy if fewer young people were able to drive heavy vehicles, as these types of licences are often a requirement when applying for jobs. It could also encourage lawlessness and result in large numbers of unlicensed and untrained drivers on the roads,” says Boshoff.

“Nevertheless, the decision to extend has been made, and debate regarding the finer details of the regulations should not delay the implementation of the principle.”

In the meantime, AfriForum will also continue to put pressure on the Department of Transport to procure new driving licence card printers so that future backlogs in the issuing of licence cards can be avoided.