Why You Won’t See Digital Drivers Licences Right Now

South Africa’s Electronic Driver’s Licence Rollout is Delayed Again

The Driving Licence Card Accounts (DLCA) 2025/26 annual performance plan confirms that the new physical licence card and the subsequent digital rollout has been postponed. The Driving Licence Card Account, tasked with printing driver’s licence cards, reveals in its 2025/26 performance plan that progress will only begin in the 2026/27 financial year, reaching just 25% implementation, and scaling up to 75% by 2027/28.

To add to the delays, AARTO’s recent plan to roll out a new demerit system failed to launch once again after a few hiccups, you can read about it here: The Truth About AARTOs New Traffic Fine System Launch Date.  

 Behind The Digital Drivers Licence Delay

The push for a digital driving licence isn’t exactly recent. It began as far back as 2022 with Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula. He announced plans for the new physically smart-card licence in October 2023, followed by a digital version offered alongside physical cards from 2024/25 onwards. 

Cabinet had approved the project earlier that year, noting that South Africa’s existing system - unchanged since 1998 - was outdated, costly to maintain, and no longer “aligned” with global standards. The new design would comply with ISO18013, the international benchmark for secure, technology-driven driver’s licences. 

At this time, Mbalula promised that old cards would be phased out gradually over a five-year transition period, with the Department of Transport exploring an extension of licence validity from five to ten years. The announcement raised expectations that motorists would soon enjoy both enhanced security and greater convenience through a hybrid system of physical and digital licences. 

So, what exactly happened?

What’s Holding Things Up?

According to motoring expert Rob Handfield-Jones from Driving.co.za, the holdup isn’t about tech at all, it’s about money. In an interview with MyBroadband, he explained: “There is no technological or practical obstacle to digital licensing and enforcement. Rather, the problem is the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s refusal to give up the revenue streams that go with analogue document production.”

Here’s the thing: South Africa already has the tools to make digital licences work. Thanks to the AARTO Act, traffic officers are required to carry digital devices that can scan licence barcodes – even straight off a smartphone screen. 

Other countries are way ahead, using everything from QR code apps to digital wallets like Apple Wallet – even Discovery South Africa has everything you need with the use of an app. 

So, the infrastructure exists, it’s just not being utilised in a way that could help take a load off the system. The government insists driving licences are a kind of “special case,” but many don’t buy the story, and it’s not a surprise. 

A “Nudge” For Digital Driver’s Licences to Go Ahead  

Based on the latest backlogs, the government had considered phasing out physical driver’s licence cards by investing millions into increasing the production of licences. To South Africa’s dismay, the results proved to be as expected. This brings us to the debate (or lack thereof) of going digital. 

In spite of this pressure is mounting on the Department of Transport to finally move ahead with digital driving licences. On 8 September 2025, Rikus Badenhorst, Chair of the Select Committee on Public Infrastructure and the Ministries in the Presidency urged Minister Barara Creecy to establish a clear timeline for the rollout. 

“The Selecting Committee has been tracking undertakings made since the 2022/23 financial year that a digital driving licence is to be introduced for the country,” Badenhorst said. He warned that ongoing reliance on physical card machines is fuelling backlogs, with “hundreds of thousands of cards” often delayed due to breakdowns. 

Badenhorst emphasised that digital licences could be securely stored on cellphones and would reduce administrative bottlenecks. “It is beyond me that we cannot introduce a digital driver’s licence which could be held on a cell phone and which could be operationalised,” he added. The committee has pledged to push for a ministerial commitment within the next four years. 

Online Driver’s Licence Renewal Process

While South African motorists wait for more updates, many are unaware that they can avoid standing in line to book an appointment for driver's licence and car licence renewals. There are ways to make it more convenient through the use of the eNATIS system, and we've covered the steps on how to do it – here’s what to do when renewing your licence online. 

Even though motorists have to deal with licence backlogs, there are a few things to take into account, like not throwing your receipt out once you’ve paid. But why? 

These are the reasons why you shouldn’t ever toss your receipt after renewing your driver’s licence. 

Cape Town Launches Licence Disc Renewal “Drive-Through” in Brackenfell

Featured in a BusinessTech article, motorists in Cape Town can now skip the queues with a brand-new drive-through licence disc renewal centre in Brackenfell. The innovative facility allows drivers to renew their discs without leaving their cars. “You can drive up, pay by card, receive your new disc, and be on your way,” said Finance MMC Siseko Mbandezi. Early tests show the process takes less than five minutes when all paperwork is in order.

Open weekdays until 19:30 and with shorter hours on Saturdays, the centre is entirely cash-free, accepting only debit or credit cards. Motorists who received a renewal SMS simply present it at the window for lightning-fast service.

The Bottom Line 

The fact of the matter is, we have all the right tools to make it work – but it’s just not on the cards. From potential loss of revenue to taking a load off, it really only works in favour of those who benefit the most, and it’s most likely not the motorists. At this stage, only time will tell.

Digital driving licences could offer several advantages for motorists. Firstly, they provide convenience by eliminating the need to carry a physical card, reducing the risk of loss or damage. Additionally, digital licences could streamline the process of renewing and updating information, making it easier and faster for drivers to manage their credentials without lengthy waits at licensing offices.

As for the latest licence disc renewal drive-through in Cape Town, we’re seeing more productive ways of keeping motorists on the move while running errands that would otherwise take hours off a weekday.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates.