The process of applying for and renewing a driver’s licence card in South Africa may soon become a lot easier, as efforts are underway to develop a new system that will allow for largely self-service licence applications.
The Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA) recently stated it will be developing a “smart” enrolment system that will allow motorists to submit a new licence card application online, handling most of the administrative requirements in the process.
Cutting down on admin
The new smart system would see users create an online profile and perform most of the licence application themselves – something which is currently done at a Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLTC).
While some DLTCs have switched to a more modern online system where bookings are created online, most of the admin associated with a licence application or renewal are still handled in person, wrote BusinessTech.
The DLCA’s proposed smart system should lead to a reduction in peak traffic at the country’s testing centres, and it also has other benefits, such as the fact it is not dependent on equipment like other types of enrolment capturing methods.
The exact nature of the “smart site” is still undetermined, as the DLCA has envisaged three main possibilities – a fully online self-service site, a hybrid system combining self-service with assistance elements, and a more traditional service akin to what some DLTCs are already using.
Under the full self-service model, users would need to do the following on their own:
- Create a profile
- Complete the application form
- Capture an image
- Capture a signature
- Upload eye tests
- Book an appointment
- Process payments
All they would then be required to do at the DLTC is verify their details and capture their fingerprints.
The assisted or hybrid model, meanwhile, would let users create a profile, fill out an application, and upload an eye test, though all the other requirements would still need to be done at the traffic centre.
Under the “traditional” model, motorists would only be able to make a booking online, with the full application still needing to be done in person.
Avoiding a backlog
According to DLCA director general, James Mlawu, the new system is intended to help cut down on the lengthy process of getting a driver’s licence in South Africa, which is often associated with long queues and wait times.
The slow-moving administrative procedure also led to a severe backlog during the 2022/2023 financial year when the country’s only printing machine broke down – an issue that was compounded by the long list of overdue licences that expired during the Covid-19 lockdown.
During this period, the cost of the increased demand went up by 40%, while maintenance costs surged to R25 million – R6 million more than the allocated budget of R19 million. Another R8 million was spent on other maintenance, too.
As a result, Mlawu said the DLCA is also attempting to procure more card printing machines while plans are underway to overhaul the country’s online application process.
Keyword: Self-service driver’s licence card renewals coming to South Africa – What you need to know