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The National Department of Transport is breathing a sigh of relief as operations have resumed at the driving license card printing facility in Pretoria. This follows a lengthy repair of the malfunctioning machine. The printer had been out of service since February 5, 2025, resulting in an overwhelming backlog of 747,748 driving license cards awaiting issuance.
As of May 2, 2025, a breakdown of the backlog reveals the extent of the disruption felt across the country. Gauteng Province leads with 252,745 outstanding cards, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 115,020 and the Western Cape at 108,402. Other provinces impacted include Mpumalanga (66,833), Limpopo (61,769), Eastern Cape (55,393), North West (39,983), Free State (33,741), and Northern Cape (13,862).
To tackle this backlog, the Driving License Card Agency has announced extended working hours for staff members, demonstrating a commitment to clearing the heap of pending applications. “We understand the inconvenience this has caused for many citizens, and we are determined to address it swiftly,” Collen Msibi commented.
The department has implemented a catch-up plan, promising regular updates on the progress made in reducing the backlog. However, they caution that the speed of resolution will depend on the daily volume of orders received.
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