Transport Dept was concerned whether French company IDEMIA would protect SAns personal data
In August 2024, French company Idemia won the R435 million bid to print the country’s biometric driver’s licences.
FILE: Twitter/Fikile Mbalula
JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Transport says it had concerns about whether a French company that won a multimillion-rand tender to print new driving licence machine would protect the personal data of South Africans.
In August 2024, IDEMIA won the R435 million bid to print the country’s biometric driver’s licences.
While no money has been paid to Idemia yet, the tender looks set to be cancelled after the Auditor-General (AG) found it was awarded irregularly.
IDEMIA is a French-based technology company, specialising in biometrics.
READ: IDEMIA driving licence tender a ‘catch-22’ for transport department
In 2024, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) cancelled an almost R400 million contract with Idemia to provide a biometric border system at its facilities.
The cancellation of that contract led to transport minister Barbara Creecy writing to the Auditor General to investigate whether the personal data of South Africans would be safe with Idemia.
An interim report provided by the AG shows an adequate assessment of Idemia’s system was done, regarding the protection of personal data.
But the AG added there were numerous inconsistencies in the entire process of awarding this tender.