Determination of extension for the validity period of a learner's licence, driving licence card, licence disc, professional driving permit and registration of a motor vehicle Directions, 2020 (Government Notice 491 of 2020)

Primary work

Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act 57 of 2002)

Government Gazette no. 43270

This legislation was repealed on 20 May 2020 by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 (Government Notice 544 of 2020)

South Africa

Disaster Management Act, 2002

Determination of extension for the validity period of a learner's licence, driving licence card, licence disc, professional driving permit and registration of a motor vehicle Directions, 2020

Government Notice 491 of 2020

Published in Government Gazette no. 43270 on 4 May 2020
Assented to on 4 May 2020
Commenced on 4 May 2020
[This is the version of this document from 4 May 2020.]

[Repealed by Directions on the Determination of the Commencement of Services and Extension for the Validity Period of Learner's Licences, Driving Licence Cards, Licence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 (Government Notice 544 of 2020) on 20 May 2020]

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

1. Definitions

In these directions, any other word or expression to which a meaning has been assigned in the Act shall have that meaning assigned to it in the Act, and unless the context requires otherwise -"COVID-19" means the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov2) which is an infectious disease caused by a virus that has previously not been scientifically identified in humans, which emerged during 2019 and was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation in 2020;"Disaster Management Act" means Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No 57 of 2002);"the Act" means the National Road Traffic Act, 1996 (Act No. 93 of 1996);

2. Authority

(1)Section 26(2)(b) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 provides that a national disaster, once declared, must be managed in accordance with existing legislation, as well as contingency arrangements as amplified by disaster management regulations or directions issued in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002,

(2)These directions are issued pursuant to the provisions of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 and specifically in terms of Regulation 4(7), 20(1) and (2) of the Disaster Management Regulations 2020 to provide for measures necessary to manage COVID-19. These directions are valid for the duration of the declared national state of disaster.

3. Purpose of directions

(1 )The purpose of the directions is to provide for the:(a)Provision of improved access and hygiene, disinfection control on all premises of Driving licence testing centres and vehicle testing centres(b)Validity period of licences.

4. Application of the directions

These Directions are applicable to all holders of learner’s licence, driving licence, motor vehicle licence disk, temporary permit and road worthy certificates and professional driving permit issued with a safety permit in terms of the Act.

5. Provision of improved access and hygiene, disinfection control on all driving licence testing centres and vehicle testing centres

(1)All Driving licence testing centres and vehicle testing centres must sanitise or provide hygiene dispenser for washing of hands for their client when entering their premises.

(2)No person will be allowed to enter a building, place or premises if they do not wear a cloth face mask or a homemade item that covers nose and mouth.

(3)All Driving licence testing centres and vehicle testing centres must put measures in place to adhere to physical distancing to curb the spread of the virus.

(4)All Driving licence testing centres and vehicle testing centres must put in place procedures for cleaning and disinfection of their premises.

6. Validity period of licences

(1)(a)All learner’s licence, driving licence, motor vehicle licence disk, temporary permit and road worthy certificates that expired during lockdown are deemed to be valid and shall be extended for a further grace period of 30 days from the date of publication of these directions.

(2)(b)A motor trade number licence that expired during the lock-down, is deemed to be valid and shall be extended for a further grace period of 6 months from the date of publication of these directions.(c)Driving licence testing centres and vehicle testing centres will resume their operation with effect from the day of publication of this directions.

7. Repeal of directions

The Directions published in Government Gazette 43183 of 30 March 2020 is hereby repealed.

8. Short title and commencement

These Directions are called the Measures to Address, Prevent and Combat the Spread of COVID19: Determination of extension for the validity period of a learner's licence, driving licence card, licence disc, professional driving permit and registration of a motor vehicle Directions, 2020 and comes in to operation on the date of publication by the Minister in the Gazette.