Learner’s licence pass rate drops to 17%

The learner’s licence pass rate in the Western Cape dropped to 17% under the new Computerised Learner Licence Testing (CLLT).

This was revealed in a parliamentary written reply regarding the new Computerised Learner Licence Testing.

Nomafrench Mbombo, a member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, said she was concerned about the low pass rate.

The computerised testing system was introduced in the Western Cape on 26 May 2025 to improve the integrity and quality of learners’ licence testing.

It is currently operational at 66 Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs) across the Western Cape.

The remaining four centres in Lutzville, Lamberts Bay, Uniondale and Murraysburg are expected to implement the system during the current financial year.

The overall learner’s licence pass rate in the Western Cape in the 2026 financial year was 63%.

However, this pass rate largely reflects tests conducted through the previous manual system while the CLLT was being rolled out.

The learner’s licence pass rate for tests conducted through the Computerised Learner Licence Testing system was 17%.

The provincial Mobility Department attributes the lower pass rate partly to the transition from a manual to a computerised platform.

The new system randomises questions and answer options, requiring applicants to demonstrate a sound understanding of road rules and road signs.

This is a significant move away from the previous manual system, where people could memorise question sequences.

There was also widespread fraud associated with the previous system, where officials would sell tests to learners.

The low pass rate is a problem, as obtaining a learner’s licence is the first step towards securing a driver’s licence.

A driver’s licence enables many people to access employment, education, healthcare and other essential services.

“While we support measures that strengthen the integrity of testing, applicants must also be adequately prepared for the new system,” Mbombo said.

“I will invite the Provincial Mobility Department to brief the Standing Committee on Mobility in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament on the low pass rate.”

She would also like to see interventions being implemented to improve applicant performance.

This can include partnerships with other spheres of government to better prepare aspiring drivers without compromising the integrity of the testing process.