South African Motorists Getting New License Cards

Picture courtesy: (SouthAfrican online news) a new look of drivers license smart card.

Wendy Masombuka

(The Post News)- South Africa’s Department of Transport has officially rolled out a new high-tech driver license in order to amplify security features and minimize fraud. The decision comes as the country seeks to modernize its road safety management systems. This month, South African motorists are due to receive an advanced upgrade to their driving licenses as the Department of Transport introduces a new card system. Advanced security features that include biometric data and microchips are there to restrict any type of identity fraud and improve road safety.

According to the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula has approved the replacement of the current driving license card with a new card featuring secure design features that will comply with international driving license standards. The new cards will replace the existing card format, which is expected to be more durable with a longer lifespan. While fraudsters cannot tamper with the card, it also complies with international driving standards, making it easier for South Africans to drive abroad.

Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunya said that her department was finalizing the procurement of a new license card printing machine while briefing the media about the scrapping of e-tolls in Gauteng. “We are at the tail end of the procurement process because the team that is busy with that had to travel to France to see the machine themselves, stated Sindisiwe.

“Before the end of this month, we will be printing new driving licenses (cards) and will launch at least the first 100 per province, as we have said. We are moving in that regard,” said the minister. In January 2024, Chukunya also revealed that the Department of Transport has not yet awarded the tender for the new printer and that it plans to finalize the process by the end of April. The new license cards were expected to launch in March 2024.

As indicated by the Driving License Card Account (DLCA), the new permit will be adjusted closer to worldwide practices, with the new card also considering the addition of new technology. The new driving permit card will have further developed security features, including biometric information, visualizations, and watermarks, to lessen fraud licenses and further develop road safety.

Tender documents distributed in November 2021 revealed how the new card should look. The front of the card will display the driver’s name, gender, date of birth, ID number, and information about the permit, including the date of issue, code, license number, and validity period, similar to the previous one. A photograph of the permit holder will be displayed on the facade of the card, alongside their mark. The card body will be produced using 100 percent polycarbonate material with explicitly planned security components, as expressed in the tender documents.

The more important changes then, at that point, are the improved security features, for example, an optional picture of the license holder’s face engraved during the personalization process, while microtext and material features will also be included. A security foundation will also overlap with the picture of the license holder, and the card’s serial number will be imprinted in a barcode design on the reverse side, which also incorporates a QR code and a phantom picture.

With its refreshed plan, the new driver’s permit will have a more drawn-out legitimacy time of eight years rather than the current five, lessening the frequency of DLTC visits for drivers. With this strategic update, South Africa reaffirms its commitment to prioritize road safety and recognizes the role that secure identity plays in building safe communities.