Coronavirus – Department of Transport Regulations – South Africa

• South Africa

• Health and safety
• Transport

01-04-2020

A notice was published in the government gazette on 30 March 2020, in terms of which the minister of transport (the “Minister”) has, in terms of section 18(7) of the National Road Traffic Act (No. 93 of 1996), extended the licensing and registration periods. These extensions will apply for the entire period of the South African lock-down period (the “Lock-down Period”) due to the spread of Covid-19 (subject to any extension, 26 March 2020 - 17 April 2020), and are as set out below:

0. The validity periods for learner’s licences, driver’s licences, motor vehicle licence disks, temporary permits, professional driving permits and road worthy certificates shall all be deemed to be valid and shall be extended for a further grace period of 30 days from the date of expiry of the Lock-down Period, unless if otherwise determined by the Minister; and
0. The validity period for the renewal of a motor trade number licence during the Lock-down Period, shall be deemed to be valid and be extended for a further grace period of six months from the date of expiry of the Lock-down Period, unless otherwise determined by the Minister.Driving licence testing centres and vehicle testing stations will remain closed during the Lock-down Period.

Additionally, the Minister published a notice under the section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act (No. 57 of 2002), being a declaration of essential services for the purposes of Covid-19. Under this notice, the Minister has declared and included the following services onto an existing list of essential services:

• Tollgate operators;
• Road emergency operators;
• Employees responsible for safe operation of the roads; and
• Rail logistic operators

The regulations under the above notices came into force immediately on Monday, 30 March 2020.