Over 2 million vehicle licence discs are expiring in November and December, and with greater police visibility and roadblocks during the festive season, motorists have been urged to get their documents up to date.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) called on South African motorists to prepare for the upcoming festive season by ensuring their vehicles are roadworthy and documents are up to date.
A total of 2,248,795 vehicle licence discs are due to expire in the next two months, highlighting the urgency for motorists to renew their vehicle licences well ahead of the busy festive period.
Unsurprisingly, Gauteng accounts for the most licence discs due for renewal, with 851,687 discs expiring, while the Western Cape follows with 374,761, and KwaZulu-Natal accounts for 327,014.
According to the RTMC, the provincial breakdown of expiring licences is as follows:
- Gauteng – 851,687
- Western Cape – 374,761
- KwaZulu-Natal – 327,014
- Mpumalanga – 150,725
- Eastern Cape – 150,521
- Limpopo – 131,274
- Free State – 107,098
- North West – 106,663
- Northern Cape – 49,052
“With traffic volumes expected to increase significantly during the festive season, motorists are urged to renew their vehicle licence discs and driving licences before their expiry dates to avoid unnecessary delays and ensure compliance with road traffic legislation,” said the RTMC
“To make the renewal process more convenient, motorists can visit online.natis.gov.za to renew their vehicle licence discs online and arrange for delivery to their residential addresses or workplaces.”
According to the RTMC, this platform has become the preferred renewal system for many motorists, with 8 million transactions recorded since its inception in 2022.
It also encouraged motorists to take advantage of the extended operating hours at RTMC Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLTC) centres.
These operate seven days a week, from Sunday to Monday, between 07:00 and 21:00 to give motorists more opportunities to renew their driving licences ahead of the busy festive season.
Ensuring roadworthiness ahead of the festive season
As well as renewing expired or expiring vehicle licence discs, the RTMC called for motorists to ensure their vehicles are inspected and serviced before embarking on long-distance journeys.
“Particular attention should be paid to the condition of tyres, brakes, lights, windscreen wipers, and other essential safety components,” it said.
“As rainfall is expected in various parts of the country during the festive season, motorists are urged to exercise additional caution when driving in wet weather.”
Drivers were also urged to ensure their tyres provide adequate grip, their windscreen wipers are functioning properly, and their vehicle lights are in good working condition.
Heavy vehicle drivers were encouraged to undergo appropriate health checks before undertaking long-distance journeys to ensure that they are medically fit to drive.
“Drivers must ensure that they are adequately rested, avoid driving while fatigued and take regular breaks during long journeys,” said the RTMC.
“Transport operators have a responsibility to ensure that drivers are fit for duty and that vehicles are in a safe operating condition before being dispatched.”
It emphasised that road safety begins before a journey starts, adding that proper planning, responsible driving behaviour, and regular vehicle maintenance are essential to reducing road crashes.
Motorists have also been encouraged to obey speed limits and maintain safe following distances, as well as driving sober and ensuring their passengers wear seat belts.
“Renewing vehicle licence discs, checking vehicle roadworthiness, and ensuring that drivers are fit to travel are essential steps towards safer roads for all and reducing the carnage on our roads,” said the RTMC.
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