The South African Department of Transport is under increasing pressure as alarm bells sound over the potential ramifications of cancelling a critical tender for smart card driving licence printers.
The existing card printing machine, which has endured 26 years of service, is now barely functional, with a backlog of renewals mounting since January 2025.
At the forefront of this impending crisis is Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, who initiated legal action on 5 March 2025, aimed at blocking the awarding of a new contract after a thorough investigation into the tendering process.
Recent revelations by City Press indicate that the department’s legal advisors have cautioned against cancelling the tender awarded to French company Idemia, warning that such action could trigger a lengthy legal battle that may last for years.
Advocate Adam Masombuka, the department’s chief director of legal services, emphasised that cancelling the R500 million contract would likely lead to an interdict, jeopardising an already strained system.
The tender for the new smart driving licence cards, a project aimed at enhancing security features to combat fraud and counterfeiting, has drawn scrutiny over its handling.
It is reported that the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) discovered that the tender process had been marred by irregularities, including failures to comply with critical supply chain management regulations and the Public Finance Management Act.
One pressing concern is the alarming state of the current driver’s licence card printing machine, which has suffered 159 breakdowns. As a result, citizens face ever-lengthening waits for their new licence cards.
Insiders told City Press that since January, printing has effectively ceased, pushing the backlog to unprecedented levels.
The pressing need for new machines has never been clearer, with proposals under the new tender suggesting the procurement of three state-of-the-art printing machines manufactured locally to ensure efficient maintenance and repairs a significant improvement over the existing reliance on overseas shipping for repairs.
The controversy surrounding the tender was ignited by a letter from the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), prompting Minister Creecy to request an expedited investigation by the Auditor-General into whether proper regulations were followed and if Idemia possessed the requisite technical capabilities.
In January 2025, the Auditor-General’s report outlined numerous instances of non-compliance and raised questions about the security of personal data associated with the tender’s implementation.
Recently, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has joined the fray, with MP Dr Chris Hunsinger calling for full transparency concerning the tender’s irregularities.
Hunsinger’s criticisms suggest that while legalities may be addressed by Creecy’s court action, the underlying issues of procurement mismanagement within the Department of Transport remain unaddressed.
‘Without full disclosure, we shall utilise Parliamentary mechanisms to ensure Minister Creecy is held accountable,’ Hunsinger stated, highlighting the urgency of the matter.
Also read:
Want to avoid long queues?New online booking system for licence renewal
Picture: Gallo Images/Jacques Stander
.
