South Africa funds digital driver’s licences
The National Treasury is allocating R150 million to develop the MyMzansi app, which will host South Africa’s digital driver’s licences. The funding was announced by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana during the 2026 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement. You have read 1 out of 5 free articles. The money will go to the digital services unit to lead the app’s development.
Minister Godongwana stated, “In this adjusted budget, R150 million is allocated towards enhancing the technical capabilities of the digital services unit to lead the development of the MyMzansi app, which will allow citizens to access government services through a single digital platform.” This funding supports a broader national digital ID plan.
The push for digital licences was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his 2026 State of the Nation Address. He outlined plans to digitise ID cards, driving licences, and other key documents. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is tasked with launching the digital ID by the end of the year.
Digital ID Regulations and Legal Framework
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber gazetted draft digital identity regulations in May 2026 for public comment. The public had until 5 June 2026 to provide feedback. These regulations will create the legal foundation for the MyMzansi platform and its digital credentials.
The regulations establish administrative rules for digital documents under the existing Identification Act of 1998. They do not create new primary laws, which means they likely won’t need approval from Parliament or the President. This expedites the process for implementation.
How Digital Licence Renewals Will Work
A working prototype of the MyMzansi system was already demonstrated by Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi at the Global DPI Summit. The platform is designed as a one-stop, zero-rated service for all government needs.
Renewing a driver’s licence will be a streamlined process within the app. Users will enter their ID number, names, and contact details. They must also digitally sign the renewal form and submit a photo for verification. The system then securely processes payments through cards like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, as well as Apple Pay.
Upon a successful payment, the app confirms the transaction and adds the digital licence to the user’s wallet. This eliminates the current six- to eight-week wait time for physical cards. The digital licence includes a QR code that traffic officers can scan to verify its authenticity.
The MyMzansi app will integrate with the Department of Transport and NaTIS to ensure licence validity. It will also display all outstanding traffic fines in one place. This centralised system aims to make licence management more efficient and transparent for all motorists.
