Department of Transport to Prohibit Use of Road Traffic Documents as General Identification
Brought to you by SAnews: The Department of Transport has formulated draft amendments to the National Road Traffic Regulations framed under the National Road Traffic Act, No. 93 of 1996, explicitly disqualifying traffic-issued credentials from being utilised as general identification documents.
The regulatory intervention follows an inter-departmental investigation with the Department of Home Affairs into the widespread reliance on Traffic Register Numbers (TRNs), learner’s licences, and driving licence cards by commercial institutions and public entities as general forms of identity verification. In terms of the Identification Act, No. 68 of 1997, the Department of Home Affairs retains exclusive statutory jurisdiction over the maintenance of the National Population Register and the issuance of primary identity documentation.
Proposed Amendments to Regulation 1: Acceptable Identification
The draft revisions to Regulation 1 delete TRNs, learner’s licences, and driving licences from the definition of “acceptable identification” for road traffic administrative purposes. Under the revised framework, acceptable identification will be restricted to:
- Non-permanent residents: An unexpired passport issued by the applicant’s country of origin, accompanied by an applicable permit issued by the Department of Home Affairs under the Immigration Act, No. 13 of 2002.
- Companies: A certificate of incorporation, registration certificate, memorandum of incorporation, or certificate of change of name issued in terms of the Companies Act, No. 71 of 2008.
- Converted close corporations: The certificate of incorporation issued to the company in terms of Schedule 2 of the Companies Act, No. 71 of 2008.
Proposed Amendments to Regulation 335: Control of TRNs
Amendments to Regulation 335 will remove provisions that currently recognise a TRN as acceptable identification by deleting paragraph (b) of subregulation (1) and paragraph (b) of subregulation (2). Additional administrative requirements include:
- Surrender of TRN on status change: In terms of amended subregulation (4), any TRN holder who acquires another acceptable form of identification must notify the registering authority on form ANR within 21 days and surrender their TRN certificate.
- Alignment with immigration permits: Under proposed subregulation (6), a TRN will remain valid only for the validity duration of the passport and permit submitted during the initial application.
- Transitional re-application requirement: Under proposed subregulation (7), all natural persons holding a legacy TRN certificate lacking an endorsed validity period must submit a fresh application within three months of the regulations taking effect.
The draft regulations will be published in the Government Gazette for a 30-day public comment period in terms of the National Road Traffic Act, No. 93 of 1996 prior to formal promulgation.
What this means for you, your business, or your clients
- For yourself: If you currently rely on a South African driving licence card as a standalone identity document for FICA or personal administrative transactions, you must ensure you have a valid Smart ID Card, green barcoded identity document, or valid passport available.
- For your business: Compliance officers and onboarding teams must review and update Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and FICA verification policies to immediately flag and reject TRN certificates, learner’s licences, or driving licences as standalone proof of identity once the amendments are gazetted.
- For your clients: Foreign national clients registered on NaTIS using an open-ended TRN must audit their permit validity and prepare to reapply on form ANR within the three-month transitional window to avoid administrative suspension on NaTIS.
Originally published at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/government-amend-regulations-prevent-traffic-documents-being-used-identification