South Africa’s driving licence backlog has surged to approximately 540,000, with applicants now waiting up to two months to receive their cards—and delays are expected to persist well into 2026. The crisis stems from the Department of Transport’s ageing card-printing machine, which has broken down more than 160 times this year alone, costing taxpayers R12 million in repairs.
A System on the Brink
The 20-year-old machine has caused 38 lost working days in 2025, severely hampering production. Despite efforts to clear the backlog—including a 24-hour printing shift—the department admits the situation remains dire.
Department spokesperson Collen Msibi confirmed that while 834,000 cards have been printed since May, the backlog remains stubbornly high due to 10,000-11,000 new daily applications.
Procurement Scandal Delays New Machine
Efforts to replace the faulty machine have been stalled by a procurement scandal. The department sought a declaratory order from the court after the Auditor-General flagged irregularities, including a controversial fact-finding trip to Europe where officials inspected a different machine than the one intended for purchase.
Msibi defended the decision to halt procurement, stating that proceeding despite the Auditor-General’s findings would constitute financial misconduct. However, he could not confirm whether the machine inspected would have been fit for purpose.
Interim Solution in the Works
With court processes likely to prolong delays, the department is finalising an interim agreement with Home Affairs to outsource printing. While Msibi withheld details, he hinted that Home Affairs’ infrastructure could help ease the backlog “in the near future.”
Growing Public Outcry
Civil society groups, including the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), have slammed the department’s inefficiencies. The Western Cape government has also demanded urgent action, calling the delays unacceptable for motorists and businesses.
What’s Next?
The department aims to reduce waiting times to four weeks, but with the current machine’s unreliability and legal hurdles, experts warn the crisis could extend beyond 2026.
For now, millions of South African drivers remain in limbo—waiting for a system on the verge of collapse to be fixed.