South Africa has seemingly lost its enthusiasm for its new driver’s license cards, hence there is no indication where the project is at the moment. The Department of Transport has not given any new information or timelines apart from the annual performance plan of the Driving License Card Account (DLCA), which is publicly available.
That plan turns out to be particularly relevant, as it sets no implementation targets for the current year, pushing measurable progress back to the 2026/27 financial year.
Planned Rollout: 2026–2028 Timeline
The DLCA plan has it that by the 2026/27 financial year, the new license card introduction is to be 25% implemented following which there will be another 75% in 2027/28. Moreover, the DLCA has reported that it has begun the infrastructure and equipment acquisition for the transition with the intention of introducing digital technologies that will automate the processes as well as increase the efficiency of service delivery.
On the other hand, in spite of these intentions being outlined, there have been no clear rules about the transition being shared. The transition still holds several key operational uncertainties like the duration current cards will be valid and the possibility of utilizing existing card printers in the new system.
Persistent System Failures & Backlogs
The current system continues to experience persistent problems due to frequent infrastructural breakdowns of the card-printing system, which goes to increase the already existing backlog of unprinted or delayed licences. One measure taken to reduce the impact is that motorists are currently allowed to drive with an expired licence for three months max if they have a receipt showing that they’ve applied for a replacement.
Such temporary measures highlight how important the upgrade is – but also how sensitive the transition might be if the existing infrastructure problems are not solved.
Tender Controversy Stops Procurement
The procurement of a new card-printing machine has come to a standstill at present due to the dispute over the tender award of Idemia that has caused the Department of Transport to challenge the R 898 million contract in court, with reasons such as:
- Cost escalation from R 486 million (Cabinet-approved) to R 898 million
- Pricing that is outdated
- Omission of costs for printing materials
- Bidders’ evaluations mistake
- Issues of noncompliance and poor documentation
Thus, the new license project is in limbo until the procurement disputes are settled.
Doubtful Outlook For New Cards
The project being able to stay on the timeline through 2026 and beyond is already questionable due to the delays and lack of transparency. If the new printing machine is not obtained soon, the implementation of new licences will really have a hard time even if the basic decisions have already been made on paper.
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