South Africa’s Sole Driver’s Licence Printer Fails, Causing Massive Backlog and Public Outcry
South Africa’s transport system is grappling with a critical bottleneck as the country’s only driver’s licence card printer has been offline since April 2025, leaving a staggering 733,000 licences unprinted and drivers frustrated nationwide.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy confirmed the breakdown earlier today, highlighting the urgent challenges posed by the country’s reliance on a 26-year-old printer — a device that has endured nearly 160 breakdowns throughout its lifetime, according to a report dated May 9.
Despite attempts by the Driving Licence Card Agency to extend staff working hours and manage the mounting queue, the absence of a backup machine has brought licence printing operations to a near halt, resulting in serious delays for thousands of South Africans waiting for their official cards.
A Crisis Exposed
This prolonged outage exposes the vulnerability in South Africa’s transportation infrastructure, illustrating the dangers of depending on outdated, singular technology without contingency plans in place.
With driving licence applications piling up, citizens and industry stakeholders alike are urging swift government action to modernize the system and avoid further disruption.
