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South Africa's ambitious plan to transition from physical to digital driving licences (eDLs) is encountering significant roadblocks, extending the wait for millions of motorists. Initially slated for a full rollout by the end of March 2025, the project now seems unlikely to meet its deadline, compounded by corruption allegations and ballooning costs.
The venture into eDL was ignited by the Driving Licence Card Account’s (DLCA) performance plan for 2021/2022, revealing early intentions to alleviate the longstanding issues of corruption and inefficiencies surrounding the issuance of physical licence cards. Supported by the former Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, and his successors, the shift to digital licences was also seen as a modern step in line with global digital trends.
By shifting to a digital system where licences are stored on smartphones, South Africans could renew their licences with greater ease and ensure they are always in possession of their driving credentials. This advancement also promised to cut down on the rampant technical failures that plagued the physical card printers.
However, the process has been anything but smooth. The project hit a major snag when the tender to produce new physical licence cards was awarded to French company Idemia in August 2024, nearly a year delayed. This delay drew sharp scrutiny from the Auditor-General and the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), who alleged that the bidding process was manipulated and criticized the contract cost escalating from an initial R468 million to nearly R899 million, with current estimates exceeding R1 billion.
Adding to the complications, Collen Msibi, a spokesperson from the Department of Transport, hinted in September 2024 at potential further postponements due to budgetary constraints pushing the eDL’s rollout to the "outer years." This was amidst necessary but costly infrastructure improvements, including the procurement of licence-scanning devices required for traffic officers.
Experts in the field have criticized these delays as unnecessary stalling by authorities. Rob Handfield-Jones, managing director of Driving.co.za, argued that technology is not a barrier to the adoption of digital licences. According to him, the more significant hindrance is the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s reluctance to forfeit the revenue generated from traditional document production. He emphasized that the necessary infrastructure for digital integration into the existing system already exists, with modern smartphones capable of handling digital barcodes used in eDLs.
In contrast, international precedents paint a promising picture of digital licence efficacy. Countries like Denmark, Iceland, Mexico, Norway, and several US states have successfully implemented digital licences, utilizing apps and QR codes that traffic officials can quickly scan – much like what South Africa proposes.
As South Africans await further updates, the promise of digital driving licences remains mired in controversy and delay. Transparency, efficiency, and a commitment to technological advancement will be crucial for the eDL project to regain momentum and public trust.