South African driver’s licence card debacle to continue
The 2024 South African driver’s licence card service provider debacle has dragged on for two years with no end in sight.
The rollout of 2024 South African driver’s licence cards appears to be delayed indefinitely due to glaring inefficiencies within the Department of Transport. Cabinet gave the go-ahead to the department to produce new licence cards – and link them to Driver’s Licence Card Accounts (DLCAs) – back in August 2022. However, the department’s inability to find suitable service providers appears to be the source of a never-ending delay.
However, The Citizen reports the department may finally be on track to deliver its long-talked-about 2024 South African driver’s licence cards. Specifically, new printing equipment has been secured for the country. Nevertheless, widespread support for the supposedly high-tech licence cards has dwindled due to the lack of urgency and transparency by the department regarding the procurement process.
AUDIT PROCESS IS ON GOING
The department’s Collen Msibi said bids to print the 2024 South African driver’s licence cards were received from five firms:
- 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
Furthermore, Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga has indicated repeatedly in 2024 that the appointment of a service provider is imminent. Reports suggest the evaluation and adjudication of the bids is complete and only the auditing process stands in the way.
CONTRADICTIONS ERODE TRUST
Meanwhile, Business Tech reports that Minister Chikunga has contradicted herself repeatedly on the matter. Back in April 2024 the department said 100 cards per province would start printing by May 2024. Except, the actual bid window for service providers remained open well beyond 1 May. So, how was that even possible?
Don’t forget that the first bid for service providers went out in November 2022. However, it had to be re-advertisement in April 2023, when no suitable candidates emerged owing to its ‘technical complexity’. “The department will pronounce on this matter when all processes have been completed. We are pleading for patience as we are prohibited by law to poke our noses into the affairs of the bidding committees, in compliance with the rules and regulations on tenders,” concluded Msibi.