New South African Driving Licence Cards: Progress and Prospects

South Africa is set to introduce a new driving licence card, with the Department of Transport in the final stages of selecting a service provider. The new cards will feature advanced security measures and are expected to alleviate the current backlog in renewals.

The South African Department of Transport is on the brink of finalizing the tender for a new driver’s licence printing machine, a critical step towards the launch of an upgraded driving licence card. This initiative, approved by the Cabinet in August 2022, aims to replace the current cards that have been in use for 26 years and are produced by a printer that has become increasingly unreliable.

Background and Current Status: In November 2022, the Department of Transport opened bids for a service provider to supply the new printing machine. However, this initial attempt was unsuccessful, leading to a re-advertisement of the tender in April 2023. The process closed in May 2023, and the department is now conducting final probity assessments on the five shortlisted bidders. These companies are Ren-Form Corporate Print Media, NEC XON Systems, Muehlbauer ID Services, Gemalto Altron Fintech Southern Africa, and Idemia Identity and Security — South Africa.

Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga announced in April that the department was at the tail-end of procuring the machine. She projected that by the end of April, new driving licence cards would be printed, with at least the first 100 cards launched per province. This commitment followed a previous, unfulfilled promise by her predecessor, Fikile Mbalula, who had aimed for a pilot phase between November 2023 and March 2024.

Technological Advancements: The new driving licence cards will incorporate advanced technologies to enhance security and usability. These features include biometric data, watermarks, and holograms, aligning with the International Information Technology Personal Identification Compliant Driving Licence (ISO 18013) standard. Such enhancements will significantly reduce the risk of counterfeiting and modification, ensuring that the cards are more secure and internationally recognized.

Addressing the Backlog: The outdated printing equipment has been a major bottleneck, contributing to a significant renewal backlog exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. At its peak, there were 1.3 million outstanding renewals. The new printing machine is expected to produce more cards daily, thereby addressing this backlog more efficiently.

Future Implications: The transition to the new driving licence card system marks a significant step forward for South Africa. It promises to modernize the country’s driver identification system, improve security, and streamline the process for South Africans driving abroad. As the final auditing processes conclude, the nation eagerly anticipates the rollout of these enhanced driving licence cards.