By BAKANG MOKOTO
12 October 2026 – The Department of Transport plans to amend the National Road Traffic Regulations to prevent traffic register number (TRN) certificates, learner’s licences and driving licences from being used as general identification documents.
The Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy said the proposed amendments aim to address the misuse of road traffic documents and ensure that identification documents are issued and regulated in accordance with the law.
“The Traffic Register Number was created solely to enable people without a South African identity number to conduct transactions on the National Traffic Information System (NaTIS) for road traffic purposes while finalising their legal status with the Department of Home Affairs.
“It was never intended to serve as general identification. The proposed changes follow a major investigation conducted in 2023, in which the Department of Transport assisted the Department of Home Affairs,” she said.
Creecy further said the investigation uncovered widespread misuse of TRNs and other road traffic documents as forms of identification. She added that some institutions have been accepting TRNs and driving licences as general identification documents, a practice which is inconsistent with the Identification Act, 1997 (Act 68 of 1997).
“The Act designates the Department of Home Affairs as the authority responsible for maintaining the National Population Register and issuing identification documents.
“The amendments were necessary to eliminate legal uncertainty, prevent abuse and align road traffic legislation with the Identification Act,” said Creecy.
She said under the proposed amendments to Regulation 1, TRNs and other documents issued under road traffic legislation will be excluded from the definition of acceptable identification. Creecy said the people who are not permanently resident in South Africa, acceptable identification will consist of a valid passport issued by their country of origin, together with the relevant permit issued by Home Affairs under the Immigration Act, 2002.
“For companies, acceptable identification will include certificates of incorporation, registration certificates, memoranda of incorporation and name-change certificates issued in terms of the Companies Act, 2008.
“For a close corporation converted into a company, the certificate of incorporation issued under Schedule 2 of the Companies Act will be accepted,” she said.
Creecy said the proposed changes mean that TRN certificates, learner’s licences and driving licences will no longer qualify as general identification documents. She said the department also plans to amend Regulation 335 to strengthen controls over the issuing and use of TRNs.
“The proposed amendments will remove provisions that recognise a TRN as an acceptable identification document.
“Furthermore, a TRN holder who obtains another form of acceptable identification will be required to notify the registering authority using form ANR within 21 days and surrender the TRN certificate,” said Creecy.
She said new provision will stipulate that a TRN will remain valid only for the validity period of the passport and permit submitted when the number was obtained. Creecy said natural persons whose TRN certificates do not reflect a validity period will be required to apply for new certificates within three months after the amended regulations come into effect.
She said the proposed amendments would be published in the Government Gazette for public comment in accordance with the National Road Traffic Act, 1996 (Act 93 of 1996). Creecy said interested parties and affected institutions will have 30 days from the date of publication to submit written comments.
“All submissions will be considered before the final regulations are published,” she said.
