South Africans may soon be able to apply for a digital driver’s licence before the planned new physical licence card.
Following frequent breakdowns of the country’s single, ageing card-printing machine, Fikile Mbalula, transport minister at the time, announced a plan to introduce a new printer and card in January 2022.
Along with a new and reliable printer, the new card would also feature enhanced security that meets international standards.
This would make it easier for South Africans to use their driving licences overseas.
The new card would also be made from polycarbonate, like smart IDs, rather than laminated paper and come with a built-in chip to securely store the holder’s information.
Cabinet approved the card’s prototype design in August 2022, with Mbalula then stating that the department would go to market with a tender to produce the card.
This would lead to the tender being appointed to the French firm Idemia in August 2024.
However, following this, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse raised concerns over irregularities in the tender to the current transport minister, Barbara Creecy.
The department subsequently applied to the High Court for the contract to be cancelled, and the court ordered the department to readvertise the tender in January 2026.
The tender was published on 6 February 2026 with a closing date of 20 March 2026.
Thus far, the department has not announced preferred bidders for the contract.
The DLCA’s Strategic Plan for 2026/27 also lacked specific targets regarding the rollout of the new driving licence card machine.
Digital licences
While delivering the 2026 State of the Nation Address in February, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the Department of Home Affairs would launch the country’s digital ID before the end of the year.
“This year, the DHA will launch a digital ID to enable safe and secure use of digital services for all South Africans,” he said. “We will digitise drivers’ licences, matric certificates, and Master’s Office services.”
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber gazetted the draft digital identity regulations for public comment in early May 2026.
These regulations are the legal framework for the MyMzansi platform, which will support the secure storage of digital IDs, driving licences, and other official civic records.
Along with this, South Africans were given until 5 June 2026 to comment on the policy; however, it will most likely take several months to process comments and finalise regulations for promulgation.
That said, the regulations are not primary laws and so may not require Parliament’s approval or Presidential assent.
The digital ID regulations outline administrative guardrails for digital credentials under the existing Identification Act of 1998, rather than changing existing laws.
Since the government already has a working prototype for the digital licence and the continued delays in acquiring a new card-printing machine, it’s possible the new system may launch before South Africans receive new physical licences.
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