The Department of Transport has yet to choose a service provider for the new ‘smart’ driving licence cards it envisions for South African motorists.
Also read: Revamped driving licence cards set to modernise road safety
The new cards will reportedly have greater security features, such as intricate watermarks and user biometrics, to help prevent illegal modifications or counterfeits.
The department released a statement on Sunday, stating it was ‘on track’ to deliver the new driver’s licence cards and printing equipment. However, it did not provide a deadline as it is still trying to find a suitable service provider.
‘With the evaluation and adjudication of the bids complete, the department is almost [on the] brink of pronouncing a new dawn in the driving licence card environment, with the audit process being the only last hurdle standing in the way,’ it said.
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The department got the go-ahead to produce a new driving licence card on 30 August 2022. The first bid was to find a service provider in November 2022. Proving unsuccessful, the department re-advertised in the government tender portal on 5 April 2023. This bid closed on 5 May 2023.
To date, the department has received five bids from the following bidders:
- Ren-Form Corporate Print Media
- NEC XON Systems (Pty) Ltd
- Muehlbauer ID Services GmbH
- Gemalto Altron Fintech Southern Africa (Pty_ Ltd
- IDEMIA Identity and Security – South Africa
‘Just to emphasise, with the evaluation and adjudication of the bid completed, the bid is undergoing standard and required department’s probity/audit processes,’ the department said.
‘The department cannot finalise the bid process until the above is completed.’
‘The department pleads for patience as it is prohibited by law not to poke its nose into the affairs of the bidding committees.’
In May this year, Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga said that the department would start printing the new cards by the end of April 2024, starting with 100 per province.
As reported by BusinessDay, she said the department was finalising the procurement of a new machine from France that would produce the cards within five working days compared to the current system, which takes about 14 days.
Collen Msibi, the department spokesperson, said the department was ‘close to making an announcement’ about the driving licence card issue. ‘Owing to its technical complexity, the bid continues to be under consideration, which requires the department to adhere to prescribed supply chain management regulations.’
Former transport minister Fikile Mbalula previously announced that the current driver’s licence card and the equipment used to produce it would be decommissioned on 1 April 2024.
He said a five-year period would allow for the transition from the old cards to the new and that the current cards would still be valid until 31 March 2029.
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Picture: Safely Home by Western Cape Government / Facebook