South African driving licence validity extended to 10 years

South Africa's Cabinet has approved extending the validity period of driving licences for light motor vehicles and motorcycles from five years to 10 years, in a move aimed at reducing the administrative burden on motorists and easing pressure on the country's licensing system.

The announcement was made on Thursday by Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni while briefing the media in Pretoria on the outcomes of Wednesday's Cabinet meeting.

Ntshavheni said the extension will apply to Code A, A1, B and EB driving licences, effectively doubling the validity period from the current 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.

She stressed that the changes will only take effect after the necessary legislative amendments have been passed.

"The implementation of the extended validity period requires legislative amendments. Motorists must therefore continue to renew expired driving licence cards until the new law takes effect," Ntshavheni said.

According to Cabinet, the reform aligns South Africa with international best practice, improves administrative efficiency, reduces the frequency of licence renewals for motorists and helps ease service demand at driving licence testing centres.

Meanwhile, Cabinet also approved the publication of the Revised Electricity Pricing Policy for public comment as part of broader reforms aimed at modernising the country's electricity sector.

The revised policy strengthens the regulatory framework governing electricity prices, tariffs and charges by introducing greater transparency through the unbundling of tariffs across electricity generation, transmission, distribution and retail activities.

It also consolidates regulatory arrangements governing pricing between electricity generators, traders, the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) and distributors, while providing a framework for regulation by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA).

Ntshavheni said the revised policy replaces the 2008 Electricity Pricing Policy to reflect significant changes in the electricity supply industry, including Eskom's unbundling and the implementation of the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act, 2024.

She said the policy seeks to introduce cost-reflective tariffs while ensuring protection for vulnerable consumers and key economic sectors.

In a further step towards reforming the electricity industry, Cabinet approved the publication of the draft Electricity Sector Market Transformation Position Paper for public comment.

The document outlines government's roadmap for transitioning from a predominantly state-controlled electricity system to a more competitive market in line with the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act, 2024, and the Energy Action Plan.

According to Ntshavheni, the proposed reforms are intended to strengthen energy security and reliability by reducing dependence on a single electricity supplier while encouraging greater private sector participation in electricity generation and trading.

Government also expects the reforms to attract investment in electricity generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure, support job creation and economic growth, and help lower electricity costs over the long term.