South African motorists will soon be able to use their driving licence cards for 10 years before renewal, following Cabinet approval announced this week.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni confirmed the decision after Cabinet’s meeting on 29 July, marking the end of a four-year journey to extend the validity period from the current five years.
The extended validity will apply to licence codes A, A1, B and EB, which cover light motor vehicles and motorcycles. However, drivers of heavy vehicles, commercial transport and those holding professional driver permits will continue renewing every two to five years under existing regulations.
“The change aligns with international best-practice, enhances administrative efficiency, reduces the frequency of renewal for motorists, and eases demand pressure within the licensing system,” Ntshavheni said.
Long road to approval
The extension has been on the cards since 2022 when former transport minister Fikile Mbalula commissioned the Road Traffic Management Corporation to study the feasibility of longer validity periods.
While the RTMC’s research recommended an eight-year extension, his successor Sindisiwe Chikunga rejected the proposal in 2024, citing health and communicable disease concerns that were widely criticised as nonsensical.
The plan was revived under current transport minister Barbara Creecy, who took up the portfolio under the Government of National Unity. She expressed support for the extension in November 2025, with director-general Mathabatha Mokonyana confirming the department’s commitment in December.
The transport department had set a target of securing Cabinet approval by March 2027, making Thursday’s announcement several months ahead of schedule.
What happens next
Despite Cabinet’s green light, the changes are not yet in effect. The extension requires legislative amendments to the National Road Traffic Act before it can be implemented.
Motorists must continue renewing their driving licence cards every five years until the amendments are processed and published in the Government Gazette. No timeline has been provided for when this will happen.
The transport department’s original plan indicated the extension would be submitted to Parliament by the end of the 2027/28 financial year, though this could now happen sooner given the early Cabinet approval.
Industry watchers have welcomed the move, which is expected to reduce queues at licensing centres and cut costs for millions of drivers who currently face renewal every five years.
ALSO READ: South Africa set to extend driver’s licence validity from five to eight years
