Crisis in South Africa’s Driver's Licence System: Delays, Breakdowns, and Tender Controversies

The driver's licence issuance system in South Africa is currently facing severe dysfunction, highlighted by repeated breakdowns of the only licence card printer in the nation and prolonged delays in the rollout of a new, modernised system. This situation has provoked intense scrutiny and criticism from various stakeholders, including the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa).

For over two decades, the single licence card printing machine has suffered a startling 159 breakdowns, significantly hindering the ability of South Africans to obtain new driver’s licences efficiently. This obsolete machine has been a weak link in the administrative chain, causing inconvenience and frustration among citizens.

In response to the growing crisis, former Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula in 2022 initiated plans to overhaul the system. This included designing a new driver’s licence card equipped with advanced security features such as biometrics and watermarks to minimise fraud and counterfeiting potential. The cabinet approved this initiative, and a tender was released for acquiring a new printer meant to handle these high-security licence cards.

However, the progress stalled dramatically. The planned three-year phased rollout of the new system, meant to span from 2023 to 2026, has been plagued by delays. The tender process faced setbacks, leading to a withdrawal and re-issue in 2023, with the contract finally being awarded in September to Idemia Identity and Security South Africa.

The appointment of Idemia has itself stirred controversy due to past allegations of corruption linked to other biometric and digital identity projects. Given the substantial increase in the project’s budget—from the initially budgeted R468 million to R899 million— and other irregularities, such as potential favouritism in tweaking tender requirements, suspicions of malfeasance have emerged.

Amidst these issues, the current Transport Minister, Barbara Creecy, has taken a vigilant step by asking the Auditor General to extend its audit scope concerning the whole process. This audit is prioritised to address the enormous backlog in driving licence card applications and assess the implications of continuing with the problematic printing machine.

Outa has actively contributed to the discourse, with CEO Wayne Duvenage expressing relief at the decision for a thorough investigation. Outa's diligence uncovered potential scoring biases and budgetary inflations in the tender process, pointing to deeper systemic issues within the Department of Transport’s Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA).

The urgency of resolving these challenges is evident as the delays in implementing a new driver’s licence card printing system continue to translate into direct consequences for the citizens awaiting their licences. The potential re-evaluation of the tender, depending on the findings of the Auditor General's report, might mean further delays but hopes to ensure a corruption-free and efficient resolution to a long-standing administrative debacle.

As South Africa navigates this complex issue, the outcome of the ministerial decisions post-audit will be pivotal in shaping the future of the country's driver's licence issuance system and restoring faith in its public service integrity.