South Africa’s sole individual driver’s licence card printing machine is finally back up and running after being down since routine maintenance was undertaken from April 5-19. During maintenance, the machine required further repair which delayed its reintroduction.
The Department of Transport (DoT) announced on Sunday night that it was again up and running.
It said the backlog of licences due to the extended breakdown, said to number some 600 000, would now be cleared up – it is believed by August this year.
The DoT has defended its decision to have only one machine for licences as it gives it more control over the issuing of fraudulent licences by corrupt officials, according to the Automobile Association of South Africa.