A sigh of relief for motorists comes as Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has recently announced the extension of the grace period for the renewal of driver’s licences, reports EWN.
According to Mbalula, driving licences that have expired between 26 March 2020 to 31 August will now be valid until 31 March 2022. This will include learner’s licenses, driving license cards, temporary driving licenses and professional driving permits. According to the Department of Transport, the grace period will come into effect from the date of publication in the Government Gazette.
INTERVENTION MADE ON DLTC: extension of validity period.
Learner’s licences, driving licence cards, temporary driving licences and professional driving permits that expire during the period that commenced from 26 March 2020 up to and including 31 August 2021. pic.twitter.com/axOk0dcxaN
— Department of Transport (@Dotransport) August 27, 2021
The extension comes after major backlogs at licence centres, a range of problems with online systems and corruption that have added to the intense delay for standard renewal process for thousands of motorists.
The extension has been granted “in order to give motorists a fair opportunity to renew their licences,” said Mbalula during a media briefing on Friday. He also took to Twitter to share the news, stating that they are in the process of looking to improve “efficiencies and resolve challenges.”
In order to give motorists a fair opportunity to renew their licences, while we are rolling out a number of measures to improve efficiencies and resolve challenges, we have decided to extend further the grace period for the renewal of licences. https://t.co/9n6XpjdLNT pic.twitter.com/VNbvKQeHCb
— |Mr Fix (@MbalulaFikile) August 27, 2021
Also read:
Picture: Supplied