Licence disc warning for 1.6 million drivers in South Africa

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has warned over 1.6 million drivers in South Africa to renew their vehicle licence discs before the end of the year – with increased policing and enforcement coming over the festive season.

With the festive season almost here, the RTMC has urged motorists to service and repair their vehicles before taking to the road, and to ensure that administration issues like licence disc renewals are handled.

According to National Traffic Information System (Natis), a total of 624,333 vehicle licence discs will be expiring at the end of November, and a further 1,026,269 will expire before the end of December 2024.

For the November wave, the highest number of vehicle discs are in the Western Cape where 152,531 will be expiring, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 136,342, Mpumalanga with 67,654, Eastern Cape with 63,903, Limpopo with 56,408, Free State 45,425, North West with 44,744, Gauteng with 35,142 and Northern Cape with 22,184.

“Motorists can conveniently renew vehicle discs online; using online.natis.gov.za where they can opt for their discs to be delivered at the address of their own choice,” the RTMC said.

The group also warned that motorists should ensure their driving licence cards also remain valid.

“Driving without a valid driving licence card is an offence and is punishable by law, we advise motorists to always carry a valid driving licence card,” it said.

The festive season marks a period of heightened policing as provinces with high traffic volumes over December and January look to reduce fatalities and injuries to due to road accidents.

In October, the national Department of Transport and several provinces launched plans for stricter policing campaigns targeting cars with specific defects to improve the safety of South Africa’s roads.

South Africa’s road safety crisis has reached critical levels, with unroadworthy vehicles significantly contributing to the high number of accidents.

To address this growing concern, the government is ramping up its efforts through more frequent roadblocks and stricter enforcement of traffic laws.

By 2025, the Department of Transport (DoT) plans to implement a 24/7 traffic policing system, which will increase the visibility of officers and enhance law enforcement across the country.

One of the most notable initiatives is the Johannesburg Metro Police Department’s (JMPD) new “three-strike” system.

Under this policy, any vehicle found with three or more critical defects during a roadblock will be immediately impounded.

This includes vehicles with issues such as :

• Leaking engine oil,
• Defective lights,
• Faulty brakes,
• Worn tyres,
• Expired driving or car licences, and
• Cracked windscreens.

These faults make vehicles unsafe for the road and contribute to many avoidable accidents.

The JMPD’s firm stance underscores that compliance is non-negotiable, and drivers must ensure that their vehicles are properly maintained to avoid legal consequences and protect public safety.

The RTMC is adding further caution to this strategy, flagging the following for anyone travelling over the coming holidays.

In addition to valid licence discs and driving licence cards, motorists should:

• Ensure that brakes, the steering rack, lights, tyres, and windscreen wipers are in good condition before embarking on their trips. Remember to have a spare wheel and the toolkit for emergency situations.

• Start planning their trips by obtaining information on whether there is construction on the routes they will be using and checking weather forecasts to determine whether it will be raining on the day on which they will be travelling.

• Avoid driving at night if possible. Even during the day, switch on your car’s headlights to increase visibility.