Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said government has approved extending the validity of South African driving licences from five to 10 years.
Ntshavheni said the extension will apply to light motor vehicle licence codes A, A1, B and EB.
Licences for heavy commercial and public transport vehicles will continue to be renewed every two or five years.
She said Parliament must first amend the law before the change can take effect.
Until then, motorists must continue renewing expired licence cards, she said.
National Taxi Alliance (NTA) welcomed the extension for ordinary drivers and urged government to also address the validity of taxi operating licences.
“We welcome Cabinet’s decision to extend light vehicle driving licences to 10 years,” said NTA spokesperson Theo Malele.
Malele urged government to respond to taxi operators’ calls for taxi operating licences to be valid indefinitely.
“Taxi operators have been calling for the return of indefinite operating licences,” he said.
Under the National Land Transport Act (NLTA), current regulations provide for timebound operating licences valid for up to five years.
He said the driving licence extension “shows government can act when there is political will”.
“We want operating licences to be issued over the counter, carry the monetary value of a business licence and remain valid indefinitely,” he said.
