The National Administration Traffic Information System (NATIS) is nearing its fourth year of operation. Yet its online driving license appointment booking service remains confined to just two provinces in South Africa: Gauteng and the Eastern Cape.
Seven Provinces Still Without Access
This limited rollout leaves seven other provinces without access to online booking via the system. These provinces include the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, Western Cape, and the North West. Interestingly, the North West had previously supported the platform but currently does not have access to it. The eNATIS system provides no explanation for its offline status in that province.
For the provinces where the service is unavailable, users are greeted with a notice. It states, “Please take note of the following: Your Province has not been added to the online platform.”
Provincial Readiness Determines Rollout
Simon Zwane, spokesperson for the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), clarified that the rollout of the eNATIS platform depends largely on the readiness of provincial authorities. He emphasized that while the RTMC has made the service available nationwide, its activation relies on each province’s decision to participate.
“The RTMC has made the service available to all provinces and will be able to roll it out as soon as the provincial authorities indicate their readiness to have the services,” Zwane said. He also noted that some provinces not yet supported have expressed interest in joining the platform. RTMC is ready to assist with implementation once these provinces are prepared.
The Western Cape’s Department of Transport and Public Works has indicated that it will only consider adopting the system in its Driving License Testing Centres (DLTCs) in the 2025/26 financial year. Spokesperson Jandré Bakker cited operational challenges experienced in Gauteng as a key reason for the delay. He explained that the province is waiting on a comprehensive report about Gauteng’s experience before making a decision.
Ongoing Challenges With Driving License Card Issuance
Even for motorists who manage to book online, delays persist in receiving their physical driving license cards. South Africa continues to face difficulties stemming from frequent breakdowns of the country’s only driving license card printing machine. The machine, which is aging, last broke down in February 2025 and was only repaired in early May.
This repeated downtime, combined with a steady stream of new applications, has resulted in a backlog. The backlog now exceeds 700,000 unissued license cards. Despite efforts such as overtime work and additional shifts, clearing this backlog alongside new applications is expected to take several months.
Collen Msibi, a spokesperson for the Department of Transport, indicated that while monthly progress updates are provided, the backlog reduction is projected to take between four and six months at a minimum. However, recent figures show the backlog only dropped from around 733,000 to 690,000 over several weeks. This suggests the machine prints roughly 2,400 cards per day. At this rate, it would take over a year to completely clear the backlog. This assumes the printer remains functional.
Efforts to Replace the Card Printing Machine Stalled
Plans to acquire a new card printing machine have encountered significant obstacles and delays. The initial supplier, Idemia South Africa, was flagged by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) and the Auditor-General for irregularities. This has led to ongoing legal disputes that have effectively halted progress.
In the meantime, the Department of Transport has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government Printing Works, which operates under the Department of Home Affairs, to assist with producing driving license cards.
While NATIS has made strides with online appointment bookings, expanding the platform beyond Gauteng and the Eastern Cape remains a challenge. This expansion is dependent on provincial readiness. Meanwhile, motorists across the country continue to face frustrating delays in obtaining their physical license cards. This is due to equipment limitations and bureaucratic hurdles.
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