South Africa

Disaster Management Act, 2002

Directions on the Determination of the Commencement of Services and Extension for the Validity Period of Learner's Licences, Driving Licence Cards, Licence Discs, Professional Driving Permits and the Registration of Motor Vehicles

Government Notice 544 of 2020

  • Published in Government Gazette no. 43339 on 20 May 2020

  • Assented to on 20 May 2020

  • Commenced on 20 May 2020

  • [Up to date as at 3 December 2020]

  1. [Amended by Directions on the Determination of the Commencement of Services and Extension for the Validity Period of Learner's Licences, Driving Licence Cards, Licence Discs, Professional Driving Permits and the Registration of Motor Vehicles: Amendment (Government Notice 802 of 2020) on 22 July 2020]

  2. [Amended by Directions on the Determination of the Commencement of Services and Extension for the Validity Period of Learner's Licences, Driving Licence Cards, Licence Discs, Professional Driving Permits and the Registration of Motor Vehicles: Amendment (Government Notice 1281 of 2020) on 3 December 2020]

I, Fikile Mbalula, Minister of Transport, hereby, in terms ot regulation 4(7) of the Regulations issued in terms ot the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No 57 of 2002), issue the directions set out in the Schedule hereto to address, prevent and combat the spread of COVID-19 in the Republic of South Africa.Mr F.A. Mbalula, MPMinister of Transport

1. Definitions

In these directions, any other word or expression bears the meaning assigned to it in the Disaster Management Act, the Act or in the Regulations, and, unless the context otherwise indicates-"Disaster Management Act" means the Disaster Management Act 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002);"the Act" means the National Road Traffic Act, 1996 (Act No. 93 of 1996); and"the Regulations" means the Regulations issued in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, published under Government Notice No. 480. in Government Gazette No. 43258 of 29 April 2020.


2. Authority

(1)Section 26(2)(b) of the Disaster Management Act provides that a national disaster, once declared, must be managed in accordance with existing legislation, as well as contingency arrangements as amplified by the disaster management regulations or directions issued in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management.
(2)These directions are issued pursuant to the provisions of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, and specifically in terms of Regulation 4(7), 20(1) and (2) of the Regulations, to provide for measures necessary to manage COVID-19.
(3)These directions are valid for the duration of the declared national state of disaster.


3. Purpose of directions

The purpose of the directions is to provide tor-(a)improved access and hygiene and, disinfection control on all premises of driving licence testing centres, registering authorities, vehicle testing stations and driving schools;(b)the validity period of licences; and(c)the resumption of services at driving licence testing centres, registering authorities, vehicle testing stations and driving schools.


4. Application of directions

These directions are applicable to—(a)all holders of learner's licences, drivers licences, temporary drivers licences, motor vehicle licence discs, temporary permits, roadworthy certificates and professional driving permits issued in terms of the Act; and(b)all driving licence testing centres, registering authorities, vehicle testing stations and driving schools.


5. Provision of improved access and hygiene, disinfection control on driving licence testing centres, registering authorities, vehicle testing stations and driving schools

(1)All driving licence testing centres, registering authorities, vehicle testing stations and driving schools must, prior to the commencement of their service on 1 June 2020, put in place procedures for the cleaning and disinfection of their premises.
(2)All driving licence testing centres, registering authorities, vehicle testing stations and driving schools must put measures in place to adhere to social distancing to curb the spread of COVID-19.
(3)All driving licence testing centres, registering authorities, vehicle testing stations and driving schools must sanitize or provide hygiene dispensers for the washing of hands for their clients when entering their premises.
(4)No person is allowed to enter a driving licence testing centre, registering authority, vehicle testing station or driving school if they do not wear a cloth face mask, or a homemade mask that covers the nose and mouth.


6. Validity period of licences

(1)All learner's licences, driving licence cards, temporary driving licences and professional driving permits that expire during the period that commenced from 26 March 2020 up to and including 31 December 2020 are deemed to be valid and their validity periods are extended for a further grace period ending on 31 August 2021.[subdirection (1) substituted by section 2 of Government Notice 1281 of 2020]
(2)All motor vehicle licence discs, temporary permits and roadworthy certificates that expired during the period that commenced from 26 March 2020 up to and including 31 May 2020 are deemed to be valid and their validity period is extended for a further grace period ending on 31 August 2020.
(3)Motor trade number licences that expired during the period that commenced from 26 March 2020 up to and including 31 May 2020 are deemed to be valid and are extended for a further grace period ending on 30 November 2020.[direction 6 substituted by section 2 of Government Notice 802 of 2020]


7. Resumption of services

Driving licence testing centres, registering authorities, vehicle testing stations and driving schools will resume their services with effect from 1 June 2020, subject to the hygiene, disinfection control social distancing and sanitizing measures contemplated in direction 5.


8. Repeal of directions

The directions published under Government Notice No. 491, in Government Gazette No. 43270 of 4 May 2020, are hereby repealed.


9. Short title and commencement

These directions are called the Directions on the determination of the commencement of services and extension for the validity period of learner's licences driving licence cards, licence discs, professional driving permits and the registration of motor vehicles and come into operation on the date of publication thereof in the Government Gazette.

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