GAUTENG – South African motorists will soon experience significantly fewer visits to licensing centres following Transport Minister Barbara Creecy’s announcement that the validity of driving licences for Codes A, A1, B, and EB is being extended from five to 10 years.
The Cabinet’s decision is designed to alleviate systemic pressure, enhance service delivery, and mitigate corruption within the national licensing process. Minister Creecy stated that the reform directly addresses overwhelming public complaints regarding the previous five-year renewal cycle. Motorists had frequently cited the process as overly time-consuming, noting the burden of mandatory eye tests, the necessity of taking a day off work, and the exhaustion of enduring lengthy queues at licensing facilities.
The primary beneficiaries of this policy shift are operators of light motor vehicles and motorcycles, which encompass the most common licence categories: A, A1, B, and EB. This administrative adjustment is projected to benefit millions of drivers nationwide by substantially reducing recurring bureaucratic hurdles.
Public reception to the announcement has been overwhelmingly positive. Motorists have expressed relief at avoiding the fatigue associated with half-decade renewal queues, with many describing the 10-year extension as a highly welcome improvement. While some citizens noted that more frequent medical or administrative check-ins might still be beneficial for elderly drivers, the general consensus remains strongly supportive of the decade-long validity period.
The Department of Transport clarified that this extension does not apply to all vehicle categories. Heavy commercial and public transport vehicles will remain subject to the existing two- or five-year renewal cycles. Furthermore, Professional Driver Permits (PDP) will continue to operate on a strict two-year renewal cycle to ensure ongoing safety, competency, and regulatory compliance standards are maintained.
