New smart driving licence card producer named

Share the Article:

IDEMIA Identity and Security – South Africa has been named as the preferred bidder to produce new smart driving licence cards.

The national department of transport made the announced on Sunday with the appointment approved on August 8.

The government missed a deadline to roll out the new cards and a printing machine at the end of April, blaming the challenges of finding a suitable service provider.

According to the departmental spokesperson Collen Msibi, IDEMIA is expected to enter into a service level agreement with the department in due course before commencing with its work to put in place the infrastructure and systems.

He said more information in terms of the timeframes will thereafter be made available to the public once the service agreement has been signed.

“The new licence card will incorporate new security features aimed at eliminating the ever increasing risks of fraudulent and counterfeit driving licenses.

“Considering the cost drivers of producing the driving license and the risk of fraud and corruption, the new driving license will continue to be manufactured centrally,” Msibi stated.  

ALSO READ | Frustration for motorists as SAMWU members close Joburg highways

He added that the department embarked on a process to find a service provider with a tender advertisement in the government tender portal in April 5, 2023, which closed in May 5, 2023. 

Msibi continued; “This resulted into five bidders’ responses that were received and subjected to a thorough and transparent process of evaluation and adjudication by the bidding committee.

New driving license card

“It was also subjected to a probity/audit process – the probity conclusion being that all the processes were in compliance with prescribed legislation and policies.

“On Friday, August 30, 2022 – the cabinet of the 6th administration approved a proposal by the department to produce a new driving license card for the country.”