by Staff Writer
The National Department of Transport (NDoT) has announced the appointment of IDEMIA Identity and Security - South Africa as the preferred bidder to produce new smart driving licence cards.
The appointment was approved on 08 August 2024.
IDEMIA is expected to enter into a service level agreement with the Department before commencing with its work to put in place the infrastructure and systems.
New licence cards will incorporate new security features aimed at eliminating the ever- increasing risks of fraudulent and counterfeit driving licenses.
The Department also announced the new driving license will continue to be manufactured centrally considering the cost drivers of producing the card as well as the risk of fraud and corruption. 
NDoT had, in 2023, embarked on a process to find a service provider. This resulted in five bidders' responses received and subjected to a thorough and transparent process of evaluation and adjudication by the bidding committee.
It was further subjected to a probity/audit process - the probity conclusion being that all the processes were in compliance with prescribed legislation and policies.
More information in terms of the timeframes will thereafter be made available to the public once the service agreement has been signed.
On Friday, 30 August 2022, the Cabinet of the sixth Administration approved a proposal by the Department to produce a new driving license card for the country.