High Court decision prompts re advertising of tender while interim measures ensure licence card production continues
South Africa’s driving licence card production process is set for a reset after the Gauteng North High Court declared the tender for new driving licence card machines irregular and invalid, clearing the way for a fresh procurement process under closer scrutiny.
The court ruling sets aside the appointment of Idemia as the preferred bidder, following concerns raised over the legality and compliance of the tender process. The Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa welcomed the declaratory order, describing it as a necessary step to uphold transparency and integrity in public procurement.
The court has instructed the Department of Transport to re advertise the tender within 30 days. In the interim, the department has been granted permission to ensure continuity in the issuing of driving licence cards to the public.
“Pending the appointment of a successful service provider under the re-advertised tender, the department has also been allowed by the court to outsource the services of printing and issuing of driving licence (cards) to the Department of Home Affairs,” the department said on Wednesday.
The declaratory order follows the department’s own application to court after the Auditor General of South Africa identified irregularities in the tender process. The move to seek judicial guidance has been positioned as part of the department’s broader commitment to effective regulation and accountable governance.
Reacting to the ruling, the Minister said the outcome validated the department’s decision to approach the court, noting that transparency and legitimacy remain central to managing complex national infrastructure systems such as driving licence production.
Operational stability has already shown signs of improvement. On 9 December 2025, the Driving Licence Card Account agency confirmed that it had cleared the backlog of cards that accumulated during the breakdown of the printing machine between February and May 2025. From 8 May to 8 December 2025, a total of 2,239,456 driving licence cards were successfully printed.
Progress has also been made on the design and security front. The State Security Agency has approved the prototype driving licence card developed by the Government Printing Works, marking a key milestone in strengthening the system against fraud and counterfeiting.
“The establishment of the network connection between the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and GPW was successfully tested. This will allow the transfer of data/files required by GPW to print the driving licence cards.
“A Cabinet process will soon be undertaken to sought Cabinet approval of the prototype card design,” the department said.
As the tender process is re launched, the focus will remain on ensuring a secure, reliable and legally sound system that restores public confidence while maintaining uninterrupted access to essential driving licence services across the country.