South African motorists may soon gain access to digital driving licences before the country’s long-delayed smart driving licence card project becomes a reality.
The shift comes as government accelerates work on a national digital identity platform that could allow citizens to store official documents, including driving licences, directly on their smartphones.
While plans for a modernised physical driving licence card have faced years of delays, legal disputes, and procurement problems, the Presidency-backed digital ID initiative has rapidly moved forward.
South Africa’s current driving licence card system has remained largely unchanged since 1998, when laminated plastic cards replaced the old licence pages printed in green ID books.
Over the years, ageing printing equipment has repeatedly broken down, causing significant backlogs for motorists attempting to renew their licences.
Smart Card Project Faces More Delays
The Department of Transport first announced plans for a new smart driving licence card in 2022 after extended downtime at the country’s only licence card printer.
Former transport minister Fikile Mbalula said the upgraded cards would include enhanced security features aligned with international standards. The new cards were also expected to use polycarbonate material similar to South Africa’s Smart ID cards and include embedded chips to securely store driver information.
Government initially hoped to pilot the cards by late 2023 and complete a nationwide rollout by March 2024.
However, the project soon became entangled in procurement controversies.
French technology company Idemia was only appointed as the preferred bidder in August 2024, months behind schedule. Anti-corruption organisation OUTA later raised concerns about irregularities in the tender process, including claims that the contract cost had exceeded the original budget by more than double.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy subsequently approached the High Court to have the contract cancelled. The application was unopposed, and the court ordered the department to restart the tender process in early 2026.
Although a new tender was issued in February this year, government has yet to announce the preferred bidder.
Digital ID System Could Leap Ahead
While the smart card project struggles to gain momentum, South Africa’s digital identity plans appear to be moving significantly faster.
President Cyril Ramaphosa first confirmed plans for a national digital identity system during his 2025 State of the Nation Address.
Months later, Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi publicly demonstrated a working digital driving licence prototype on the MyMzansi digital ID platform.
During the demonstration, users could verify their identity, complete payment processes, and add a digital driving licence to their mobile device within minutes.
The system integrates with the Department of Transport and the National Traffic Information System (NaTIS) to confirm licence validity and driver information.
The digital licence includes basic details such as the holder’s licence code, restrictions, card number, and a QR code that law enforcement officers can scan for verification.
Ramaphosa announced during the 2026 State of the Nation Address that the Department of Home Affairs intends to launch the national digital ID system before the end of the year.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has already published draft digital identity regulations for public comment, laying the legal framework for the MyMzansi platform.
Government said digital IDs and digital licences would remain optional and operate alongside physical documents rather than replacing them entirely.
Because the regulations fall under existing legislation instead of requiring entirely new laws, implementation may happen faster than many other government reforms.
With a functional prototype already demonstrated publicly, South Africa could become one of the first African countries to introduce large-scale digital driving licences.
Source: BusinessTech