Where to from here for South Africa’s new driver’s licence cards

South Africa’s new driver’s licence cards are stuck in a Catch 22 situation after an Auditor-General (AG) investigation discovered numerous irregularities in the tender evaluation process.

Among others, the AG determined that the initial bid criteria wasn’t applied consistently between bidders, some of the bid specifications were ambiguous and therefore required discretion from the selection committee, and the budget cap was erroneously calculated.

Speaking on Newzroom Afrika, Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy said that no money has thus far been spent on the rollout of the new licenses, but if her Department were to do so, it would be classed as irregular expenditure due to the inconsistencies found in the tender process.

However, to disband the tender altogether, the Department would have to pay cancellation penalties to Idemia Identity and Security, the French company that was awarded the contract.

“The Public Finance Management Act makes it an offence for an accounting officer to authorise spending where the AG is indicating that there is irregularity, so we’re in a Catch 22 situation,” said Creecy.

“I have asked my officials to prepare documentation so that we should go to the High Court for a clarity order that would assist us in understanding how do we proceed with this particular matter.”

The Department’s hands are tied until the High Court provides a solution, suggesting the rollout of the country’s new driver’s licence cards will be put on ice for the time being.

While we wait

While we wait for the High Court’s orders, Creecy said her Department will work on finding interim solutions to the country’s licensing woes.

At present, there is a backlog in the issuing of licence cards owing to the country’s sole, ageing card printing machine that is prone to breakdowns.

The immediate remedy for this situation will be the issuing of temporary licences to those motorists who are waiting to receive their cards.

In addition, the Transport Department will enhance maintenance efforts on the printer so that it can keep operating at capacity for the foreseeable future.

“I have also requested the acting Director-General [of the Transport Department] to look at interim solutions, and I hope that once he has done the necessary work, we should be in a position to announce what those interim solutions would be while we try to find a satisfactory outcome with regards to the long-term solution,” said Creecy.