The launch of new smart driver’s licence cards in South Africa has been further delayed after the auditor-general (AG) found several irregularities in the tender process.
South Africa's sole card machine printing licences has repeatedly broken down and caused backlogs and was to have been replaced by new equipment producing cards with security features aimed at eliminating the risk of fraud and counterfeits.
The updated licences are said to have greater security features, including intricate watermarks and user biometrics to store data, which should make it harder to illegally modify or produce counterfeit cards.
The current driver’s licence cards and the equipment used to produce them were to have been decommissioned in April 2024, with a five-year transition until March 31 2029 from the old to new cards. However, the government missed the April deadline which it blamed on challenges of finding a suitable service provider.
In September the transport department announced French technology company Idemia Identity and Security had been appointed as the preferred bidder to produce new smart driving licence cards. However, after opposition from the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) and the AA, transport minister Barbara Creecy requested the AG to investigate key issues in the audit process.
This week Creecy announced she had taken legal action to block the tender award after the AG identified instances of noncompliance with the required procurement processes. She said a declaratory order was being sought from the high court to get guidance on how to proceed, which meant the smart licences were further delayed.
The transport department said Idemia failed to meet key bid technical requirements. Additionally, the AG review confirmed the other bidders were not unfairly disqualified as they also did not meet the bid’s technical specifications.
All bids submitted exceeded the R486m budget set by the Driving Licence Card Account indicating inadequate market analysis and budgeting.
Outa is grateful the minister listened and took the matter further as we believe there is clear evidence of wrongdoing and this is outlined in the Outa dossier provided to the minister in September
— Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage.
Outa welcomed Creecy’s intervention.
“Outa is grateful the minister listened and took the matter further as we believe there is clear evidence of wrongdoing and this is outlined in the Outa dossier provided to the minister in September,” said Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage.
“This outcome is the direct result of effective civil intervention, when civil society organisations work responsibly with whistle-blowers to build strong evidence-based cases that halt grossly overpriced and what is clearly a corrupt tender being awarded. We also hope those involved in the bid evaluation and adjudication process will be held accountable. It was clear and obvious this tender was manipulated.”
The transport department is using a 20-year-old printing machine to produce the entire country’s licence cards. Department spokesperson Collen Msibi did not respond to requests for comment, but in September said the backlog for driver’s licence renewals was about 380,000 applications.
While the high court deliberates on the smart licences, the government is exploring interim solutions to sustain the operations of the current machine. The interim measures would be announced later, said Msibi.
The planned digital driving licence is likely to be also significantly delayed beyond its original planned rollout in March 2025, according to Mybroadband.co.za.
Electronic driving licences stored on a smartphone could make it more convenient for motorists to renew their cards and ensure they have them whenever they drive.
In 2022 former transport minister Fikile Mbalula said motorists would have the option of a physical licence card or a digital licence at renewal time.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.