logo
Call to extend driver's license validity

Call to extend driver's license validity

The Citizen7 days ago
South Africans have complained about the slow pace at which driver's license cards are being issued.
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) executive director advocate Stefanie Fick has written to Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy to consider extending the validity for all licence cards to 10 years and waive fines and temporary licences for those whose new licence cards are stuck in the backlog.
This comes after the Department of Transport reported a backlog of 690 000 driving licence cards, arising from the breakdown earlier this year of the sole card-printing machine.
Outa CEO Wayne Duvenhage said after months of delay, the department had finally filed papers in the High Court in Pretoria aimed at overturning the R898 million contracts awarded to Idemia South Africa to supply a new driving licence card machine.
Duvenhage said the auditor-general took their concerns seriously: 'We commend Minister Creecy for acting on them.
This is how civil society, oversight institutions and public representatives should work together to tackle maladministration.' He added: 'In early September last year, Outa exposed procurement irregularities in this contract and submitted a detailed report to Creecy, who passed it on to the auditor-general of South Africa and asked for further investigation.
That request was accompanied by Outa's detailed report outlining allegations of procurement irregularities.'
ALSO READ: 'Self-destructing' number plates for Gauteng? Here's what to know
Duvenhage said the court papers outline multiple flaws in the contract, including a nearly R400 million cost escalation, from the original Cabinet-approved budget of R486.385 million to the signed contract of R898.597 million.
Also contributing was the use of outdated pricing, omission of printing material costs, evaluation errors in scoring, machine assessments and bidder non-compliance and weak documentation. AfriForum also wanted Creecy's to issue temporary licences free of charge to motorists who renew their licences on time, amid the backlog in the issuing of driving licence cards.
Spokesperson Louis Boshoff said the department had ignored workable solutions, such as extending the validity period of licence cards.
– [email protected]
NOW READ: RAF CEO placed on special leave with full pay, as MPs grill fund
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

South African Lens: Pakistan's Divorce Laws Leave Women in Financial Limbo
South African Lens: Pakistan's Divorce Laws Leave Women in Financial Limbo

IOL News

time3 hours ago

  • IOL News

South African Lens: Pakistan's Divorce Laws Leave Women in Financial Limbo

As it stands, Pakistan follows a model where property remains separate unless jointly titled—regardless of a woman's unpaid contributions to the household or her support for her husband's career. This issue has been spotlighted in Pakistan's courts. Image: Supplied In many societies, divorce is not just a personal rupture but a financial reckoning — especially for women. This is starkly true in Pakistan, where the legal system fails to recognise a woman's right to marital property, often leaving divorced wives with little more than the clothes on their backs. For South Africans watching global gender justice trends, Pakistan's legal landscape raises urgent questions about how tradition, law and social norms can entrench inequality in the private sphere. Despite Islam's emphasis on justice and the protection of the vulnerable, Pakistani women who exit a marriage often do so without any claim to assets acquired during the relationship. This is because Pakistan does not currently have legislation that guarantees women a share in property accumulated while married. As it stands, the country follows a model where property remains separate unless jointly titled, regardless of a woman's unpaid contributions to the household or her support for her husband's career. This issue has been spotlighted in Pakistan's courts. The Lahore High Court recently instructed the federal government to consult on a proposed amendment to the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance of 1961. The amendment, initially brought forward by Senator Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, introduces terms such as 'matrimonial asset' and seeks to give women fairer recognition of their contributions. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The court's intervention may become a turning point, as public discourse grows around the injustice of women leaving long marriages with nothing, despite having raised children, run households and sacrificed careers. To understand the impact, it helps to look beyond Pakistan's borders. Countries such as Turkey, Malaysia and Morocco — Muslim-majority states like Pakistan—have adopted laws that balance Islamic principles with modern family realities. In Turkey, marital assets are presumed to be jointly owned unless otherwise agreed. Malaysia takes both financial and non-financial contributions into account when dividing property. Morocco's Family Code permits couples to decide beforehand how to share property, with the law recognising joint management during the marriage. These countries demonstrate that religious values and women's rights need not be in conflict. Legal frameworks can uphold the dignity and equality of both spouses, particularly when marriages dissolve. Currently, Pakistan's system mirrors what legal scholars call a pure separate property regime. Under this model, property belongs only to the person who earned or acquired it. There is no assumption that marriage creates an economic partnership, and courts generally require strict proof of ownership. This often disadvantages women who have worked in the home or made indirect contributions, as they lack titles or formal income records. South Africa, by contrast, provides multiple options when couples marry, including community of property, which assumes equal ownership of assets acquired during the marriage. This legal approach acknowledges that both spouses contribute to the financial foundation of the household, even if in different ways. South African courts, when dividing property, also take into account each partner's needs, contributions and the duration of the marriage. It is a system far more aligned with the complex social reality of marriage than Pakistan's outdated laws. The cost of inaction in Pakistan is high. Women who divorce often lose access to shelter and income. Even where they have invested years in managing the home or caring for children, the law offers no recourse. Many end up dependent on their families or feel pressured into remarriage for economic survival. This perpetuates gendered cycles of poverty and limits women's agency. Pakistan has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which requires states to ensure equality in marriage and family relations, including property rights. CEDAW's guidance calls for equal access to marital assets. Other Muslim-majority countries have made strides toward compliance. Tunisia and Iran, for instance, have introduced property-sharing rules that acknowledge both partners' roles in a marriage. Pakistan, however, remains out of step. Legal reform is not only a technical matter. It is about recognising that women are equal partners in family life, deserving of financial security when that partnership ends. Amending the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance to define and protect matrimonial property would help courts provide more consistent, fair outcomes. It would also signal that Pakistan is serious about its commitments to gender equality, both to its citizens and the global community. For South Africans, watching this debate unfold is a chance to reflect on how far we have come and how far others still need to go. In a world where women's rights are constantly under pressure, the battle for fairness within the family is as important as any public policy reform. Pakistan stands at a fork in the road. One path leads to continued injustice and economic hardship for women. The other leads to fairness, dignity and the recognition of women's work — paid or unpaid—as valuable and deserving of protection. The choice, now, is in the hands of lawmakers.

Daily Lotto results: Sunday, 27 July 2025
Daily Lotto results: Sunday, 27 July 2025

The Citizen

time4 hours ago

  • The Citizen

Daily Lotto results: Sunday, 27 July 2025

Tonight's jackpot is R400 000! Here are your winning Daily Lotto results for 27 July 2025. Get the Daily Lotto results as soon as they are drawn on The Citizen. Daily Lotto results for 27 July 2025: 14, 17, 25, 28, 32. Here are the DrawResults & Payouts for (27/07/25): #DAILY LOTTO: 14, 17, 25, 28, 32 Congratulations to all the #winners! Players must be 18 years or older, play responsibly. ITHUBA is the proud operator of the National Lottery. — #PhandaPushaPlay (@sa_lottery) July 27, 2025 The winning Daily Lotto numbers will appear below after the draw. Usually within 10 minutes of the draw. You might need to refresh the page to see the updated results. How to play Daily Lotto in SA? If you are buying a ticket in-store: Pick up a betslip in any lottery store. Choose five numbers between 1 and 36, or select a Quick Pick. Entries cost R3 each. You can play a max of R150, but you are allowed to play multiple boards. Select how many consecutive draws you wish to enter, up to a maximum of 10. Leave blank for a single draw. Take your betslip to the teller to pay for your ticket. Write your details on the back of your ticket in case you need to claim a prize. If you do not sign your ticket and it is lost, anyone can use it to claim the prize. If you are playing online: Set up a lottery account here and make a deposit to pay for tickets. Choose five numbers from 1 to 36 or select 'Quick Pick' to generate a random set. Repeat this on as many boards as you want to play. Decide whether to enter a single draw or multiple draws. Confirm and pay for your entry The Daily Lotto draws take place shortly after 9:30pm every evening, and tickets can be bought until 8:30pm. Is there a winner every day? Yes. The jackpot prize money is guaranteed to be given away even if no one matches all five numbers. When this happens, the jackpot is split between everyone who matches two or more numbers. Visit and go to the How to Play Daily Lotto section to learn more.

COSATU urges unity as racial rhetoric threatens South Africa's AGOA trade benefits
COSATU urges unity as racial rhetoric threatens South Africa's AGOA trade benefits

The Star

time4 hours ago

  • The Star

COSATU urges unity as racial rhetoric threatens South Africa's AGOA trade benefits

Thabo Makwakwa | Published 2 days ago The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has issued a strong call for organisations across the country to tone down on divisive and destructive rhetoric that fuels racial tensions. The organisation stressed the importance of unity as South Africa seeks to renew the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) with the United States. In a statement released on Friday, COSATU's parliamentary coordinator, Mathews Parks, highlighted the potential consequences of inflammatory discourse, warning that "the malicious decampaigning of South Africa in the US will come at a real cost to all South Africans, particularly Afrikaans farmers and workers." COSATU's call comes amid the US' annual review of AGOA member eligibility, a critical process determining whether South Africa and other nations will retain preferential trade benefits. Parks expressed the federation's support for renewing AGOA before its expiry at the end of September, highlighting its significance for South Africa's economy. 'AGOA has been an important stimulant for key jobs and revenue-rich sectors such as mining, agriculture, motor manufacturing, and more,' Parks said. 'It has facilitated trade and investment between the US and South Africa, with over 600 American companies invested here and 500,000 South African jobs linked to US trade. It's a framework that benefits both nations and the continent.' He further noted that South African vehicle exports, including components like steering racks from Tunisia and rubber from Côte d'Ivoire, demonstrate the interconnectedness of regional trade, which AGOA has helped to facilitate. Parks stated the importance of a mutually beneficial trade agreement, highlighting opportunities for expanding product inclusion, supporting emerging sectors, and strengthening cooperation on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). COSATU expressed the positive reception of its proposals in Washington and lauded the solidarity shared with American labor movements, especially the AFL-CIO. The federation pledged to continue working closely with the South African government, business sectors, and US counterparts to deepen bilateral relations—while respecting sovereignty and promoting sustainable economic growth. 'Progress under President Cyril Ramaphosa's leadership to reset bilateral relations is encouraging,' Parks stated. 'However, it is vital that all parties support these efforts and refrain from inflammatory language that undermines social cohesion.' The federation strongly urged organisations such as AfriForum, NEASA, Sakeliga, and the Freedom Front Plus to prioritise national unity over partisan point-scoring. 'Whilst social media clicks may entertain friends over a braai, the malicious decampaigning of South Africa in the US will come at a real cost to all South Africans, in particular Afrikaans farmers and workers.' Parks stated that legitimate grievances should be addressed through constitutional and legal channels like Parliament, the judiciary, or law enforcement, rather than through rhetoric that incites racial divisions. 'Now is the time to shed narrow racial interests and place the nation's needs first,' he asserted. 'Partisanship has its place during elections, but the current climate demands maturity and responsibility from all stakeholders. Meanwhile, In a letter dated February 11, 2025 Republican congressmen Andrew Ogles, Tom Tiffany, Joe Wilson and Don Bacon asked President Donald Trump to revoke South Africa's access to the US market through AGOA and diplomatic relations alleging that South Africa had a vendetta against Israel, allegedly committing human rights violations and was friendly with China's Community Party. [email protected] IOL Politics

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store