The Gloves are Off: Transport Minister Requests Investigation into Smart Driving Licence Tender

Transport minister Barbara Creecy is sending a strong message: business as usual is not acceptable. She has asked the auditor-general to launch an investigation into the recent smart driving licence tender process that led to French tech firm IDEMIA being awarded the contract.

But this isn’t just any investigation. Creecy wants the AG to get to the bottom of why IDEMIA was selected despite being embroiled in controversy, including its recent contract termination with the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA).

Rumors of insider trading and unfair treatment of local companies have been swirling, and the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has already weighed in, calling the selection of IDEMIA a “recipe for disaster”.

So, what’s really going on? Was the tender process a sham? Were the right questions asked about IDEMIA’s credentials? The auditor-general has its work cut out for it, but one thing is certain: the game is changing.

Creecy wants answers to a laundry list of questions, including:

* Did IDEMIA’s recent ACSA contract termination impact the tender process?
* Were the company’s technical capabilities truly considered in the bid evaluation?
* Were local service providers given a fair chance to participate?
* And most importantly, did IDEMIA really deliver the best value for taxpayers’ hard-earned cash?

With the smart driving licence tender at the centre of the storm, Creecy is putting the spotlight on government’s procurement practices. It’s a wake-up call for everyone involved: the tender process is under scrutiny, and no one is above suspicion.

Will the AG uncover the truth? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: this is going to be a fight worth watching.