South African motorists with light motor vehicles and motorcycles will soon only need to renew their driving licences every 10 years, following Cabinet’s approval of an extension to the current validity period.
The announcement was made by Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, during a post-Cabinet media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday, 30 July.
The extension applies to Code A, A1, B and EB driving licences, increasing their validity from five years to 10 years. However, licences for heavy commercial and public transport vehicles will continue to follow the existing two- or five-year renewal cycles, while Professional Driving Permits (PrDPs) will remain valid for two years.
The implementation of the extended validity period will require legislative amendments, meaning motorists must continue renewing expired driving licence cards under the current five-year system until the new law comes into effect.
“The change aligns with international best practice, enhances administrative efficiency, reduces the frequency of renewals for motorists and eases service-demand pressures within the licensing system,” said Ntshavheni.
Cabinet also approved the publication of the Revised Electricity Pricing Policy for public comment. The updated policy aims to strengthen the regulatory framework governing electricity prices, tariffs and charges by improving tariff transparency and aligning pricing with ongoing reforms in the electricity sector.
In addition, Cabinet approved the publication of the draft Electricity Sector Market Transformation Position Paper for public comment. The document outlines government’s plans to create a more competitive electricity market, attract investment, improve energy security and reliability, support economic growth and reduce electricity costs over time.
