The National Department of Transport plans to tighten regulations to prevent traffic register number (TRN) certificates, learner’s licences and driving licences from being used as general identification documents.
The proposed amendments to the National Road Traffic Regulations aim to stop the misuse of road traffic documents and clarify which documents may legally be accepted as identification.
The department said an investigation conducted in 2023, with assistance from the Department of Home Affairs, uncovered widespread abuse of TRNs and other road traffic documents used as identity documents.
“The TRN was created solely to enable persons without a South African identity number to transact on the National Traffic Information System (NaTIS) for road traffic purposes whilst finalising their legal status with Home Affairs,” the department said.
“It was never intended to serve as general identification.”
The department said some institutions were accepting TRNs and driving licences as general identification, contrary to the Identification Act of 1997, which gives Home Affairs sole authority to maintain the National Population Register and issue identification documents.
New rules for foreign nationals and companies
Under the proposed changes, road traffic documents will no longer qualify as acceptable identification. Foreign nationals who are not permanent residents will need an unexpired passport from their country of origin, together with the relevant permit issued by Home Affairs.
Companies and certain close corporations converted into companies will have to use the relevant registration or incorporation documents issued under the Companies Act.
The amendments will also introduce stricter controls for TRN holders. Anyone who obtains another acceptable form of identification must notify the registering authority within 21 days and surrender their TRN certificate.
A TRN will also be valid only for the period covered by the passport and permit submitted when applying for it. People whose TRN certificates do not specify a validity period will have to apply for new certificates within three months after the regulations take effect.
The department said the changes would require institutions, including banks, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), offices and residential estates, to review their policies and systems.
“TRNs, Learner’s Licences, and driving Licenses may no longer be accepted as forms of general identification. They may only be accepted for their intended purpose: road traffic-related transactions,” the department said.
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Public comment period open
The draft amendments will be published in the Government Gazette for public comment. Interested parties and affected institutions will have 30 days from the date of publication to submit written comments.
The department said all submissions would be considered before the final amendments are published.
The regulations will come into operation only after the comments and inputs have been considered and incorporated into the final amendments, which will be published with a commencement date.
In the interim, provinces have been instructed to centralise the issuing of TRNs at provincial help desks to strengthen controls.
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