South Africa Invests in State-of-the-Art Driving Licence Card Machines

In a move to modernize and enhance the efficiency of driving licence card production, South Africa is set to invest over R1 billion in three cutting-edge driving licence card machines. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy confirmed the investment, detailing that each machine costs R334 million and includes vital operational software.

Minister Creecy's announcement came in response to parliamentary inquiries from Rise Mzanzi MP Makashule Gana. The plan is to position two machines at the main production site and one at a disaster recovery location, ensuring that the nation is prepared in the event of any operational interruptions.

The decision to acquire new machinery follows a wake of challenges faced by the current 26-year-old printer, which cost the nation over R21 million in maintenance over the past five financial years. With hefty annual repair and maintenance costs, the Department of Transport (DoT) set aside R870,000 for the 2023/24 financial year to ensure continued operation until the new devices are operational.

South African maintenance of the new machines, rather than outsourcing repairs to Germany as with the current printer, signals an impactful step towards localizing technical expertise and reducing downtime. This move was championed in the wake of significant backlogs in licence card production when the only existing printer broke down and had to be sent to Germany for repairs—a process that spanned several months and was further delayed by the festive season.

Despite the promising benefits, the appointment of Idemia Identity and Security South Africa as the preferred bidder to produce new licence cards faces major scrutiny. Minister Creecy has impelled the Auditor-General to escalate its review of the tender process to probe potential supply chain anomalies and the safety of personal data. Prevailing concerns, expressed by civil watchdog Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), center on the integrity of the tender process and a notable contract cancellation involving Idemia and the Airport Company South Africa (ACSA).

Minister Creecy has also instructed the Auditor-General to look into various dimensions of the tender, such as considering local service providers, the cost-effectiveness of the chosen bid, and Idemia's capability to meet technical and delivery requirements. This holistic investigation aims to ensure transparency and efficiency in acquiring the new machines, which are critical to resolving the current backlog in driving licence applications and avoiding future disruptions.