Driver’s licence good news: Government shares renewals process change

The Department of Transport has confirmed a new partnership that will allow driver’s licence eye tests to be done far from licence centre queues, the update was revealed on Thursday 7 October.

HAVE YOUR DRIVER’S LICENCE EYE TEST AT YOUR OPTOMETRIST

The transport department has partnered up with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) to facilitate eye tests for licence renewals.

Instead of travelling to licence centres to meet long queues for eye tests before renewing your driver’s licence, you can now just stop at your optometrist. The eye doctor will offer the test and then upload the results directly to the eNatis system.

“The RTMC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), which will pave the way for motorists to make use of private optometrists who will have authority to upload eye test results directly to the eNatis system,” the statement said.

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FIKILE MBALULA EXPLAINS THE DECISION

According to the transporter minister, Fikile Mbabula, many South Africans were afforded an extended window to renew licences, but very few took advantage of the offer.

“We are concerned with the low number of motorists who are taking advantage of the extension of the validity period. Only 38 619 motorists have renewed their licences,” Mbalula said.

“This leaves us with a backlog of 633 800 expired driving licences that are yet to be renewed.”

Road Traffic Management Co-operation said the new decision will also allow its workforce some breathing space after the backlog caused by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

“The initiative is part of efforts to improve efficiency and reduce the backlog in expired
licences caused by the imposition of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions,” RTM said.

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