South Africa’s Driving Licence Overhaul: Backlog Slashed as Government Printing Works Steps In

For countless South African motorists, the process of renewing or obtaining a driving licence card has been a lesson in patience and frustration. Queues snake around testing centres, and the wait for the physical card can stretch for months, leaving drivers in a bureaucratic limbo. But now, a significant shift is underway, promising to untangle one of the nation’s most persistent administrative knots.

The Department of Transport has confirmed a dual-pronged breakthrough: a substantial reduction in the notorious licence card backlog and a pivotal move to bring card production under the wing of the Government Printing Works (GPW). This strategic change could finally herald the modernisation of a system long crippled by ageing infrastructure and contractual disputes.

A Turning Point in Licence Card Production

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy recently delivered a much-needed dose of optimism. The department, she announced, has received prototype driving licence cards from the GPW—the same entity responsible for the country’s efficient smart ID card system. This development is more than just a test run; it represents a potential lifeline for a system on the brink.

“We’ve been working day and night using the existing machine and running three shifts,” Minister Creecy stated, underscoring the urgency of the situation. This relentless effort has yielded tangible results. The backlog, which stood at a daunting 330,000 cards as recently as September, has now been slashed to approximately 200,000. While this is a marked improvement, it highlights the sheer scale of the challenge posed by the department’s single, unreliable printing machine.

The involvement of the GPW is a game-changer. With its proven track record in producing secure, high-volume documents, its entry into the driving licence arena could mark the beginning of the end for the production delays that have plagued motorists for years. The question on every driver’s mind is simple: could this be the solution we’ve been waiting for?

Untangling a Controversial Tender

The path to this point has been anything but smooth. It is paved with the controversy of a R898 million tender awarded to Idemia Identity and Security South Africa, a subsidiary of a French technology giant. Intended to deliver a new, modern card printing system, the contract instead became mired in allegations of irregularity.

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) played a crucial watchdog role, sounding the alarm after a detailed investigation. Their findings were stark: the contract’s price had nearly doubled from the Cabinet-approved budget of R486 million to a staggering R899 million. Furthermore, OUTA’s report outlined serious flaws in the tender process, including outdated pricing models, omitted costs for essential printing materials, and fundamental errors in the scoring of the bidding companies’ machinery.

In response, Minister Creecy did not hesitate. She requested the Auditor-General to expand its investigation to include OUTA’s claims. The department’s stance hardened, citing not only the procurement disputes but also concerns over Idemia’s track record in South Africa, including the cancellation of a major biometric border control system contract with Airports Company South Africa.

The legal manoeuvring that followed is a delicate dance. The department has filed an application in the Pretoria High Court to have the Idemia contract set aside. In a significant development, the minister confirmed that this application will not be opposed, clearing a major hurdle. However, as department legal adviser Advocate Adam Masombuka cautioned, an outright cancellation could trigger a lengthy legal interdict, potentially stalling progress for years.

A Permanent Home for Card Production?

Faced with this legal tightrope, the Department of Transport has devised a pragmatic contingency plan. It has asked the court for permission to have the Department of Home Affairs, via the GPW, take over the printing of driving licence cards on an interim basis. The delivery of viable prototypes is a strong signal that this plan is not just theoretical—it’s operational.

This has led many to ask a more fundamental question: why interim? If the GPW, with its established infrastructure and expertise, can produce the cards reliably, should it not become the permanent producer?

The Automobile Association (AA) has been a vocal proponent of this idea. Why outsource a critical national function to a private contractor, with all the associated risks and costs, when a capable state-owned alternative exists? The memorandum of understanding already signed between the DoT and the GPW to ensure a reliable backup solution suggests the department is seriously considering this very path. It’s a move that could insulate the licensing system from future contractual failures and technical breakdowns.

Relief for Motorists in the Interim

While these high-level changes unfold, the immediate concern for the average motorist remains legality and convenience. Recognising that the delays are a burden not of the public’s making, the Department of Transport has implemented a key relief measure.

DoT spokesperson Collen Msibi confirmed that the department has decided to waive the R72 fee for temporary driving licences. This means that drivers awaiting their new cards can obtain the necessary temporary documentation to remain on the right side of the law without incurring an additional financial penalty. It’s a small but meaningful gesture that acknowledges the inconvenience faced by millions.

The road to a fully efficient, modern driving licence system in South Africa still has a few bends ahead. The resolution of the Idemia court case and the full integration of the GPW into the production process are critical milestones to come. But for the first time in a long while, there is a clear and credible plan. The backlog is shrinking, a more reliable producer is waiting in the wings, and motorists are being offered a reprieve. The journey is far from over, but the destination is finally coming into view.

Source: BusinessTech