We support the AA’s licensing extension request

Justice Project South Africa (JPSA) supports the call of the Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) for Transport Minister to extend the validity period of all licences beyond the 30 August deadline. It also urges the minister to consider doing the same in respect of professional driving permits, and to give special consideration to the difficulties experienced by learner drivers, as a direct effect of the lockdown.

Learner drivers whose learner’s licences expired or are still to expire after 31 May are particularly adversely affected. During the ‘hard lockdown’ learner drivers could not undergo any formal instruction through driving schools, which were prohibited from operating under Levels 5 and 4.

The resultant demand for new tests for learner drivers who were affected by the lockdown will impact on volumes of applicants to repeat such learners? tests. This, in turn has a counter-intuitive effect on social distancing, particularly in Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs) where bookings must be done in person.

Regarding professional driving permits, the process to renew a Professional Driving Permit (PrDP) is more cumbersome than any licence and where one has or is to expire after 31 May 2020, such demand for renewals will have a similar counter-intuitive effect, not only in DLTCs, but in doctors? waiting rooms.

We hope that the Minister will give the AA’s and our requests his urgent consideration.