OUTA proposes NO fines while there’s a driving licence card backlog

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PRETORIA - Outdoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has asked Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy to waive fines and temporary licences for those whose new driving licence cards are stuck in the backlog.

The Department of Transport reported a backlog of 690 000 driving licence cards last week (see here), arising from the breakdown earlier this year of the sole card-printing machine.

On 17 June, OUTA’s Advocate Stefanie Fick wrote to the Minister, asking her to consider extending the validity period for all cards to 10 years and, while the card backlog exists:

1. Announcing a moratorium on fines related to expired driver’s licence cards for motorists who have already applied for renewals and that no temporary licences are required until all backlogs have been cleared.

2. Public communication of this moratorium through all official channels including RTMC platforms, provincial traffic authorities and traditional and social media.

3. Providing clarity to all enforcement officials to prevent unwarranted fines and harassment of motorists.

Fick says fining motorists who are still waiting for their renewed cards would be unfair.

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