National Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula announced in a press release on 27 August 2021 that the validity period for learner's licences, driving licence cards, temporary driving licences and professional driving permits that expired in the period 26 March 2020 up to and including 31 August 2021 are deemed valid and their validity periods are extended for a further grace period ending on 31 March 2022.
The previous extensions of the validity period were intended to enable an orderly clearing of the backlog that arose during the COVID-19 National State of Disaster. Due to a lack of capacity and occasionally faulty equipment, some motorists were unable to renew their licences in time.
To give motorists a fair opportunity to renew their licences, while at the same time rolling out measures to improve efficiencies and resolve problems, the National Department of Transport decided to extend the grace period for the renewal of licences until 31 March 2022.
The full directive can be viewed in the Government Gazette issued on 31 August 2021.
Read more about the licence extension:
- Minister Mbalula extends licence grace period and unveils interventions to improve driving licence processes (press release).
- Government Gazette: Measures to Address, Prevent and Combat the Spread of Covid-19: Determination of Extension for the Validity period of Learner’s Licences, Driving Licence Cards, Licence Discs, Professional Driving Permits and Registration of Motor Vehicles for Adjusted Alert Level 3.