Transport Proposes Clearer ID Rules to Curb Document Fraud

The Department of Transport is proposing changes that would stop driving licences, learner’s licences and Traffic Register Number certificates from being used as general identification documents.

The department says the amendments would address misuse of road traffic documents and clarify their intended purpose. The proposal has not been confirmed as being in force, and no commencement date has been established.

Why the Department Wants Changes

According to the department, a joint investigation with Home Affairs in 2023 uncovered widespread misuse of Traffic Register Numbers, known as TRNs.

A TRN enables someone without a South African identity number to conduct road traffic transactions on the National Traffic Information System. The department says it was never intended to serve as general identification.

Transport spokesperson Collen Msibi told 702 and CapeTalk that investigators had found fraudulent certificates and cases where the documents were used to open bank accounts. He said the proposed changes sought to tighten controls and align traffic regulations with the Identification Act.

What Is Proposed?

The department’s published explanation sets out changes to the definition of acceptable identification and the administration of TRNs.

These would include:

• Removing traffic-issued documents from the regulations’ definition of acceptable identification.

• Requiring people who are not permanently resident in South Africa to present an unexpired passport and the relevant Home Affairs permit.

• Linking a TRN’s validity to the passport and permit submitted when obtaining it.

• Requiring holders of TRN certificates without a validity period to apply for replacements within three months after the amendments take effect.

That proposed three-month period would begin with commencement of the regulations. It is not a deadline triggered by the recent news reports.

What Readers Can Do Now

The proposal could affect people who routinely present driving licences during identity checks. Msibi specifically discussed their use at residential estates, offices and airports.

For now:

• Check accepted documents before travelling or attending an appointment. Ask the airline, bank or organisation concerned.

• Keep licensing and identification requirements separate. The proposal concerns general identification, rather than announcing the cancellation of everyone’s driving licence.

• Watch for the official notice. The department says interested parties will have 30 days from publication in the Government Gazette to comment.

For the government’s explanation, read the SAnews report on the proposed amendments.

The Bottom Line

Before relying on a driving licence for an identity check, confirm the organisation’s current requirements. Any nationwide change should be assessed against the final regulations and their commencement date.