Licence validity to be extended
Update on notification issued on 30 March 2020 by The Automobile Association
The Minister of Transport, Mr Fikile Mbalula, yesterday (Wednesday, 20 May) announced that all Driving Licence Testing Centres, registering authorities, vehicle testing stations and driving schools, will resume their services on 1 June. This is in line with national guidelines to move South African from Lockdown Level 4 to Lockdown Level 3 on the same date.
According to the Government Gazette issued yesterday, all centres must put in measures to adhere to social distancing, and the opening of these centres and services are subject to strict hygiene, disinfection control and sanitizing measures required in terms of the Disaster Management Act which governs the lockdown.
According to the regulations, “no person is allowed to enter a driving licence testing centre, registering authority, vehicle testing station or driving school if they do not wear a cloth face mask, or a homemade mask that covers their nose or mouth”.
Importantly, the regulations stipulate the following in relation to the validity period of licences:
All learner’s licences, driving licences, temporary driver’s licences, motor vehicle licence discs, temporary permits, roadworthy certificates, and professional driving permits that expire during the period commenced from 26 March 2020 up to an including 31 May 2020 are deemed to be valid and their validity period is further extended with 90 days from 1 June 2020.
Effectively, this provision means that all the licences and permits mentioned above, which expired during this declared period, are valid until Friday, 28 August 2020.
The Automobile Association (AA) urges all road users with expired licences, discs or permits to apply for the renewal of these documents within the 90 period to ensure their validity after the 90 day grace period.
Government Gazette available at:
https://www.gov.za/documents/disaster-management-act-directions-measures-address-prevent-and-combat-spread-8