BY: Saneliso Mlambo
South Africa’s Department of Transport (DoT) is embroiled in controversy following allegations of irregularities in the tender process for procuring a new driver’s licence card printing machine. The current machine, operational for over two decades, has experienced 159 breakdowns, leading to significant delays in issuing driver’s licences.
The Auditor-General’s recent audit uncovered serious irregularities in the tender award, prompting Transport Minister Barbara Creecy to seek a declaratory order from the High Court to address the issue. The audit revealed that the tender process involved multiple cancellations and re-issuances without transparent explanations, raising concerns about potential favoritism towards a specific bidder.
Minister Creecy has taken decisive action by instructing the DoT to apply to the High Court for a declaratory order regarding the tender award. She emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in the procurement process and expressed commitment to resolving the matter promptly.
The procurement issues have exacerbated the existing backlog in driver’s licence applications. South Africa’s reliance on a single, aging printing machine has led to prolonged processing times, with each card taking an average of 14 working days to complete. The inefficiencies have contributed to a significant backlog of licence renewal applications, reaching a peak of 1.3 million between 2022 and 2023.
The DoT’s handling of the tender process has drawn criticism from civil society organizations, notably the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), which has called for the cancellation and reopening of the tender with enhanced oversight and transparency. The ongoing investigation and legal proceedings are expected to delay the rollout of the new driver’s licence cards, which were initially slated for a phased introduction starting in 2023.
As the legal process unfolds, stakeholders await further developments to ensure that South Africa’s driver’s licence system undergoes the necessary modernization to meet the demands of its citizens.