The South African Department of Transport is proposing amendments to road traffic regulations that would prevent the use of traffic register number certificates, learner's licenses, and driving licenses as general identification documents. This move aims to tighten controls on the use of road traffic documents after an investigation uncovered widespread abuse of traffic register numbers. The proposed changes would require institutions, including banks and government offices, to review their policies and systems to ensure compliance with the new requirements.
According to the department, the investigation that led to the proposed amendments revealed that traffic register numbers were being used as a form of identification, contrary to their intended purpose. The traffic register number was created to enable persons without a South African identity number to transact on the National Traffic Information System for road traffic purposes. Department spokesperson Collen Msibi stated that the amendments seek to ensure that documents issued under the National Road Traffic Act are used for their intended purpose.
The proposed amendments would change the definition of acceptable identification to remove traffic register numbers and other documents issued under road traffic legislation from the list of acceptable identification documents. For individuals who are not permanent residents of South Africa, acceptable identification would mean an unexpired passport issued by their country of origin, accompanied by the relevant permit issued by the Department of Home Affairs. For companies, acceptable identification would include a certificate of incorporation or registration certificate.
The department is also proposing amendments to strengthen controls over the issuing and validity of traffic register numbers. The changes would remove provisions that allow traffic register numbers to be used as acceptable identification. Msibi stated that the draft amendments would be published in the Government Gazette for public comment, allowing interested parties and affected institutions 30 days to submit written comments.
The regulations would only commence once the department has considered and incorporated the comments and inputs received into the final amendments, which would be published in the Government Gazette with a commencement date. Msibi emphasized that traffic register numbers, learner's licenses, and driving licenses may no longer be accepted as forms of general identification, but only for road traffic-related transactions. For identification and verification purposes, only documents issued by the Department of Home Affairs would be valid.
In the interim, provinces have been instructed to centralize the issuing of traffic register numbers at provincial help desks to strengthen controls over the process. This move aims to prevent the abuse of traffic register numbers and ensure that they are used for their intended purpose. The department's proposal has significant implications for institutions and individuals who currently use traffic register numbers and driving licenses as forms of identification.
The proposed amendments are expected to have a significant impact on the way institutions and individuals use traffic register numbers and driving licenses. The department's move to tighten controls on the use of road traffic documents is aimed at preventing identity fraud and ensuring that documents are used for their intended purpose. The public will have the opportunity to comment on the proposed amendments before they are finalized and implemented.
Key points
- The South African Department of Transport proposes to ban the use of driving licenses and learner's permits as general identification documents.
- The proposed amendments aim to tighten controls on the use of road traffic documents after an investigation uncovered widespread abuse of traffic register numbers.
- The regulations would only commence once the department has considered and incorporated public comments into the final amendments.
