South Africa is making significant strides in updating its driving licence card system, a long-awaited move that aims to improve the experience for drivers across the country. For years, citizens have dealt with outdated systems, long waiting times, and technology that has struggled to meet the growing demand for new and renewed licence cards.
Appointment of Idemia as the Service Provider
In an effort to modernize the system, the Department of Transport has appointed Idemia Identity and Security as the new service provider. Idemia, a leader in security technology, is tasked with producing the updated driving licence cards. Their expertise in biometrics and cryptography is expected to bring enhanced security features to the new cards, making them more resistant to fraud.
Idemia’s selection marks a pivotal moment in the country’s journey to revamp its licensing system. However, some limitations still exist, particularly with the card’s validity period, which remains at five years, sparking debates over whether extending it to eight years would be more beneficial for drivers.
Current Challenges in South Africa’s Driving Licence System
South Africa has relied on an outdated machine for over 25 years to produce driving licence cards. This aging system, now 26 years old, can only print one licence card every 14 days, creating a significant backlog of approximately 1.3 million renewals. The backlog reached a critical point in 2022 and 2023, causing widespread frustration among drivers.
To address this, the Department of Transport initiated a plan in August 2022 to introduce a more efficient system, including high-capacity printers capable of handling the growing demand. These upgrades will improve the speed of card production and enhance security features to prevent fraudulent activities.
Tender Process for New Licence Card Machine
In November 2022, the Department of Transport issued a tender for a new printing machine, but the initial bid did not yield a suitable vendor. The tender was re-advertised in April 2023, prompting proposals from five companies:
- Ren-Form Corporate Print Media
- Nec Xon Systems (PTY) LTD
- Muehlbauer ID Services GMBH
- Gemalto Altron Fintech Southern Africa (PTY) LTD
- Idemia Identity and Security – South Africa
After a thorough evaluation, Idemia was selected as the preferred provider to meet the country’s needs for more secure and efficient driving licence production.
Enhancing Security and Efficiency in Licence Production
The new driving licence cards will feature advanced security measures designed to combat fraud and counterfeiting. Idemia’s involvement ensures that the production process will be more efficient, with all cards produced at a single, central location. This centralization will lower production costs and reduce the risk of fraud and corruption.
Along with the new cards, improvements will be made to Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs) across South Africa. These updates aim to streamline the application and renewal process, making it more accessible and user-friendly.
New Card Design and Validity Period
The updated driving licence cards are expected to have a modern design, improved durability, and enhanced security features. While these updates aim to make the cards safer and more practical, there is ongoing discussion about the card’s validity period. Currently, the cards will still be valid for five years, though some advocates, including the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), suggest that extending the validity to eight years could be more practical, particularly for light vehicle drivers.
Despite these recommendations, the Department of Transport has decided to maintain the five-year validity period, citing health concerns, especially the need for regular eye tests as drivers age.
The Limitations of the Five-Year Validity Period
The decision to retain the five-year validity period has been met with some criticism. The RTMC and the Department of Transport argue that regular health checks, particularly for vision, are necessary to ensure road safety. They suggest that a longer renewal period could increase the risk of drivers with deteriorating eyesight continuing to drive without the necessary checks.
However, some critics, including the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), challenge this reasoning. Outa points to the RTMC’s research supporting an eight-year validity for light vehicle drivers, questioning whether health concerns are truly sufficient justification for maintaining a five-year cycle. They argue that extending the validity period could reduce the workload for both drivers and the licensing system, ultimately making the process more efficient.
