By Marcus Moloko
The North Gauteng High Court has scrapped the Department of Transport’s R898 million tender for new smart driving licence cards, citing irregularities.
Motorists could face delays, possible backlogs and continued reliance on outdated licence cards until a new tender process is completed.
In August 2024, the Department of Transport awarded French biometric security firm IDEMIA Identity and Security SA a contract worth R898 million to supply a new machine for printing secure smart driving licence cards.
The tender was meant to replace South Africa’s ageing card printer, which has suffered repeated breakdowns and caused backlogs in licence renewals.
However, the Auditor-General flagged serious irregularities in the procurement process, including poor supplier vetting and inflated costs.
Acting on these findings, the Department of Transport approached the courts to have the tender reviewed.
The Gauteng North High Court declared the tender irregular, invalid, unlawful, and unenforceable.
The court ordered the Department of Transport to readvertise the tender within 30 days.
In the interim, the Department has been allowed to outsource licence card printing to the Department of Home Affairs, ensuring motorists can still obtain renewals.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy welcomed the ruling, saying it vindicated the Department’s commitment to transparency and accountability in tender processes.
The new cards would be valid for eight years, instead of the current five.
The process had a goal to shorten the time it takes to produce new cards to within five working days, nine days faster than the current printer.
Motorists expecting new, more secure smart driving licences will have to wait longer.
The tender restart means months of administrative processes before a new supplier is appointed.
South Africa’s current licence card printer, in use since 1998, is prone to breakdowns.
This raises the risk of backlogs in issuing and renewing licences.
With Home Affairs temporarily authorised to print cards, motorists may see changes in where and how licences are processed. This could ease pressure but may also introduce new logistical challenges.
The cancelled tender was meant to improve fraud prevention with advanced biometric features. Until a new system is in place, motorists remain exposed to risks associated with the older cards.
According to the court order, the Department must re-advertise the tender by early February 2026.
The new process will be closely scrutinised to avoid repeat irregularities. If successful, motorists could see the rollout of modern smart licences later in 2026, aligning South Africa with international standards.
INSIDE POLITICS
High Court pulls plug on smart driving license tender; here’s how it affects motorists
