Transport Director-General Alec Moemi told Parliament on Wednesday [May 6] that his department is working on introducing an updated driver’s license that will be more durable then current licence cards and feature increased security measures.
The Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA) trading entity briefed MP’s on the progress of the proposed new card specifications and the acquisition of a new card production machine.
The new licence cards will introduce a network infrastructure that links to drivers’ licence testing centres to put in applications for the printing of licences. This means that the waiting period for your license will be reduced from two weeks to just seven days.
“We are also re-engineering the DLCA process flow to ensure automation at all levels and eliminate the manual processes, and to also eliminate the potential of fraud. We are also looking at the creation of a platform for introducing the e-service in this regard so that there is seamlessness communication of our machinery between the printing centre as well as the license testing centres in this regard,” Moemi said.
The modernisation of the driving licence system will also see an update to the current technology used, ensuring that the system is safe and that there are no disruptions in the printing of the cards, an issue which has previously been experienced.
The call to update the machines that are currently being used to print licence cards is down to the fact that they’re nearing the end of their useful lifespan. The supplier of ink used in these machines has indicated that it will be discontinued in the next 48 months.
“It’s a race now against time for the replacement of the machine and of ensuring that we are able have a modern, world-class card,” said Moemi.
The new card project is said to be instated in the 2020/21 financial year, with the improved durable card expected to arrive at the end of 2022. The new card will also be compliant with the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), ensuring that it is internationally accepted.
