Latest news with #GovernmentPrintingWorks
The Citizen
a day ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Top 10 stories of the day: Remembering Mabuza
Here's your daily news update for Friday, 4 July 2025: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. News today includes among the many memories of former deputy president David 'DD' Mabuza will be his slick political moves and pulling the rug out from under the Radical Economic Transformation (RET) faction of the ANC. Meanwhile, as the country battles with only one driver's licence card machine, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says her department has struck an agreement with the Government Printing Works to provide a backup if the existing fault-prone machine is out of service. Furthermore, director of rugby and head coach Jake White and the Bulls have mutually agreed to part ways. Weather tomorrow: 5 July 2025 Parts of the Cape provinces will be hit by severe weather, including heavy rain, snow, and strong waves, while inland provinces face chilly but stable conditions. Full weather forecast here. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way. Remembering Mabuza: The man who 'dashed' the potential Zuma dynasty Among the many memories of former deputy president David 'DD' Mabuza will be his slick political moves and pulling the rug out from under the Radical Economic Transformation (RET) faction of the ANC. Mabuza died on Thursday after a prolonged battle with ill health. He was accused of corruption and political violence, allegations which he denied. David Mabuza, right, with President Cyril Ramaphosa. Picture: Gallo Images In 2017, Mabuza was the chairperson of the ANC in Mpumalanga and an influential figure in the party as it headed into its 54th national elective conference. CONTINUE READING: Remembering Mabuza: The man who 'dashed' the potential Zuma dynasty From South Africa to Azania? Name change proposal sparks debate The Republic of Azania is what South Africa could be called, following a proposal by a political party to change the country's name. The African Transformation Movement (ATM) and other political parties have opened a debate about changing South Africa's name to the Republic of Azania. South Africa, Picture: iStock The ATM, which hopes to table the proposal in parliament, argues that South Africa is a colonial label imposed by the British and the Boers. CONTINUE READING: From South Africa to Azania? Name change proposal sparks debate Creecy signs agreement to provide backup for ailing driver's licence card machine As the country battles with only one driver's licence card machine, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says her department has struck an agreement with the Government Printing Works to provide a backup if the existing fault-prone machine is out of service. Creecy shared the details during her budget speech delivered at the transport department budget vote in Parliament on Wednesday. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy. Picture: GCIS South Africa's only driver's licence card printer has been plagued by breakdowns. CONTINUE READING: Creecy signs agreement to provide backup for ailing driver's licence card machine 'Police are the chief criminal syndicate': Saps R120bn budget criticised by MPs MPs have sharply criticised the police's budget, with several voicing concerns over persistent corruption in the South African Police Service (Saps). On Friday, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu presented the department's budget for the 2025-2026 financial year at the Good Hope Chamber in Cape Town. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. Picture: Gallo Images The presentation was followed by a debate in which MPs scrutinised both the spending plan and annual performance targets. CONTINUE READING: 'Police are the chief criminal syndicate': Saps R120bn budget criticised by MPs 'Time for a new voice' as White and Bulls part ways Director of rugby and head coach Jake White and the Bulls have mutually agreed to part ways. This was after he allegedly fell out of favour with several players and coaches at the Pretoria union in recent weeks. Jake White is no longer the director of rugby at the Bulls. Picture: Gallo Images The Bulls board held a meeting on Friday to determine his future, finding no reason for the 2007 World Cup-winning coach to stay on even though he was contracted until 2027. CONTINUE READING: Confirmed: 'Time for a new voice' as White and Bulls part ways Here are five more stories of the day: Yesterday's News recap READ HERE: RIP David Mabuza | Driver nabbed with 80 Zim nationals | Hey Neighbour postponed
The Citizen
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Creecy signs MOU to provide backup for frail driver's licence card machine
The existing licence card printing machine is 26 years old and had experienced almost 160 breakdowns. As the country battles with only one driver's licence card machine, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says her department has struck an agreement with the Government Printing Works to provide a backup if the existing fault-prone machine is out of service. Creecy shared the details during her budget speech delivered at the transport department budget vote in Parliament on Wednesday. Driver licence card machine South Africa's only driver's licence card printer has been plagued by breakdowns. The machine has been out of order since January, creating a massive backlog in the issuing of driver's licences. Few to no cards have been issued since the start of the year. ALSO READ: The driver's licence machine is fixed, but another problem remains Solution Creecy said the Auditor-General found irregularities in the procurement process of the new driver's licence card machine. 'It is a matter of public record that the department has taken a self-review application on this matter to the courts. The old card machine is currently fixed and we are hard at work to clear out the printing backlog of licence cards. 'To ensure we have a backup solution, we have signed an MOU with the Government Printing Works. We expect that within three months, this backup solution will be able to print driver's licence cards,' Creecy said. Government printing works The Government Printing Works produces vital documents such as passports, visas, birth certificates and smart ID cards in South Africa. The Driving Licence Card Authority (DLCA) is the entity in the department of transport responsible for producing driving licences ALSO READ: Driver's licence expired while printing machine is broken? Here's what you should do Tender In March, Creecy instructed her department to file a high court application for a declaratory order regarding the R400 million tender for a driving licence card machine. This was after the Auditor General (AG) identified irregularities over the preferred bidder Idemia's South Africa contract. In September last year, the Transport Department appointed French multinational identity technology company Idemia as the preferred bidder for the multimillion-rand tender to procure a new driver's licence printing machine. Irregularities However, a week before Idemia was selected, it was dealt a blow with Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) cancelling a deal that would have seen the French company provide technology like self-boarding gates at nine South African airports. In September 2024, Creecy instructed the AG to expedite and widen the audit scope for the new driving licence card procurement process after new evidence emerged of alleged serious irregularities in the decision to make Idemia the preferred bidder. ALSO READ: I renewed my driving licence, it was a breeze and stress-free AG report According to the report, the AG identified instances of non-compliance with the required procurement processes. The AG also found that the identified instances of non-compliance were due to the DLCA's inadequate budget analysis, which is part of the demand management process. 'Bids are not being evaluated according to the evaluation criteria as per the bid specifications and scoring is inconsistent during the bid evaluation process.' Old machine The existing licence card printing machine is 26 years old and has experienced almost 160 breakdowns, which have become more frequent. In May the confirmed that the driving licence card printing machine had been fixed and operations resumed with a massive backlog of licences to be printed. ALSO READ: Report on investigation into driving licence machine tender won't be kept under wraps
