Joburg’s Driving Licence Centres Grind to a Halt Amid Financial Crisis

The driving licence centres in Johannesburg are facing a crisis that has left many motorists frustrated and unable to renew their licences. This turmoil is rooted in a prolonged financial standoff between the City and the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT), with the City admitting it has failed to remit licensing fees for over a year.

Motorists arriving at the centres often find themselves turned away or met with lengthy queues and locked doors. City spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane confirmed that the City has not transferred provincial licensing agency fee collections since June 2025. This financial dispute has resulted in the province restricting the City’s supply of face-value paper, which is essential for printing official documents like driving licences.

While the City attributes the long waits to localized logistics issues, the core of the problem lies in the unpaid fees that have created a bitter intergovernmental conflict. As a result, the GDRT has limited the City’s access to the necessary materials, leading to operational disruptions at municipal centres.

Modingoane assured residents that while some operations continue, the availability of face-value paper is tightly controlled. The GDRT has increased the City’s weekly allocation from 25 to 30 boxes, allowing for the continuation of services, albeit under strict inventory management. However, the internal procurement issues have exacerbated the situation, with shortages of standard A4 paper and printer cartridges hampering administrative functions.

These failures have caused serious backlogs and prompted some centres to halt operations altogether. For instance, the Randburg DLTC suspended driving licence renewals and related services after running out of essential supplies. Motorists faced not only delays but also exploitation from street touts, who charged for forms that should be free.

The situation is further complicated by the contrasting efficiency of provincial “smart DLTCs,” which operate on a cashless and appointment-based system. While municipal centres struggle with closures and delays, provincial centres remain open longer and provide quicker service.

Civic group JoburgCAN has criticized the City’s handling of the fiscal crisis, highlighting that the inability to manage basic supplies reflects deeper systemic failures within the municipal government. Julia Fish, executive director of JoburgCAN, pointed out that the ongoing fiscal mismanagement continues to hinder service delivery across various sectors.

Amid these challenges, Modingoane noted that traffic law enforcement is adapting to the inventory restrictions, underscoring that the situation remains fluid and that efforts are underway to resolve the supply issues. However, for many Johannesburg residents, the ongoing chaos at driving licence centres is a stark reminder of the impact of governmental dysfunction on daily life.

Source: www.dailymaverick.co.za