Bad news for South Africans using driving licences as ID

The days of using driving licences, learner’s licences and Traffic Register Number (TRN) certificates as general identification documents could be numbered.

This is after the National Department of Transport proposed amendments to the National Road Traffic Regulations aimed at tightening controls over the use of road traffic documents as proof of identity.

The move follows a 2023 investigation conducted with the Department of Home Affairs, which uncovered widespread misuse of TRNs and other traffic documents, with some institutions accepting them as general identification despite their intended purpose being limited to road traffic-related transactions.

“The TRN was created solely to enable people without a South African identity number to transact on the National Traffic Information System (NaTIS) for road traffic purposes while finalising their legal status with Home Affairs. It was never intended to serve as general identification."

The proposed amendments seek to clarify the legal status of road traffic documents and prevent them from being used for purposes beyond those for which they were issued.

The department said the practice of accepting TRNs and driving licences as general identification was contrary to the Identification Act, 1997 (Act No. 68 of 1997), which designates the Department of Home Affairs as the authority responsible for maintaining the National Population Register and issuing identification documents.

Close ✕

Under the proposed amendments, Regulation 1 of the National Road Traffic Regulations will be revised to exclude TRNs and all other documents issued under road traffic legislation from the definition of acceptable identification.

For people who are not permanently resident in South Africa, acceptable identification will include an unexpired passport issued by their country of origin, accompanied by the relevant permit issued by Home Affairs in terms of the Immigration Act, 2002.

Stricter controls on Traffic Register Numbers

The department is also proposing changes to Regulation 335, which governs the control of TRNs.

The amendments will remove provisions that recognise TRNs as acceptable identification and introduce stricter requirements for existing holders.

Under the proposed changes, TRN holders who obtain another form of acceptable identification will be required to notify the registering authority using form ANR within 21 days and surrender their TRN certificates.

A TRN will also be valid only for the period of validity of the passport and permit submitted when it was issued.

IOL Business

mthobisi.nozulela@iol.co.za

Get your news on the go. Download the latest IOL App for Android and IOS now