The Public Servants Association (PSA) has voiced its support for South Africa to transition to a digital driving licence system.
It noted that it believes such a system will reduce opportunities for fraud and corruption associated with physical licences and also eliminate longstanding frustrations that South Africans experience when trying to renew their physical licence cards.
The PSA, South Africa’s largest trade union for public-sector employees, released a statement praising the move after communications minister Solly Malatsi demonstrated digital driving licences.
“The PSA commends initiatives to replace the physical driving licence with a digital driving licence system,” it said.
“The introduction of the digital driving licence is a technological upgrade and a fundamental shift that will modernise the transport sector and eliminate longstanding frustrations experienced by citizens.”
It also noted that the new system is expected to improve efficiency and, as a result, reduce waiting times, backlogs, and administrative burdens in licence testing centres.
“The modernisation of the entire licensing system is long overdue. Adopting digital technologies such as blockchain and smart-card technology will modernise the system,” the PSA said.
“This convenient system will result in a driver’s licence renewal being completed in minutes, with credentials verified, details updated, and a digital licence displayed, all connected to the existing national system.”
The PSA has made several recommendations, which include ensuring the move is supported by adequate funding, sufficient staffing, and a reliable support team.
It stressed that the modernisation process must not place further strain on the already overburdened working conditions under which Road Traffic Management Corporation employees are currently working.
“There are growing concerns about whether resources allocated to these initiatives are sufficient,” the PSA said.
“Inadequate resources and outdated infrastructure can hinder employees’ ability to provide high-quality service and add frustration for users.”
Cheaper new licence card printers
South Africa’s current, sole card printing machine for driving licences is very old and prone to breakdowns.
Replacing this machine, however, will be costly.
Rob Handfield-Jones, managing director of Driving.co.za, believes that the digital system offers a far more cost-effective solution to this issue.
He added that a digital system will also avoid the issue of backlogs and save South Africans money.
Handfield-Jones additionally indicated that there is no need for an analogue system for driving licences anymore, as traffic officers could police digital driving licences with smartphone apps.
“Every driver has fingerprints, and every vehicle has a VIN,” he said. “If Sars can collect tax with an app, surely traffic officers could police drivers with an app.”
Additionally, developing and launching such an app would be significantly cheaper than acquiring new card printers.
That said, he added that he believes that the government is still intent on the analogue system as physical driving licence cards serve as a means of revenue generation.
“There is no technological or practical obstacle to digital licensing and enforcement,” said Handfield-Jones.
“Rather, the problem is the Road Traffic Management Corporation refuses to give up the revenue streams that go with analogue document production.”
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