Latest news with #Idemia
The South African
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- The South African
BAD news for motorists with expired drivers' licences in SA
Any South African motorists with expired drivers' licences are in for a longer-than-expected wait. Last week, it was revealed that the Department of Transport (DOT) filed papers with the Pretoria High Court to re-run its botched licence printing tender. The South African has been keeping track of the licence printing debacle that's several years behind schedule. However, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), has now revealed that papers have been filed to overturn the existing R886-million contract. This means we are no further along to resolving the issue of expired drivers' licences than we were years ago. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has been under attack for her handling of the backlog debacle. Even though the irregularities took place before she was in office. Image: File In fact, so desperate is the DOT that it asked the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to help print expired drivers' licences. However, even this hasn't gone smoothly, because the output needs to be approved the State Security Agency (SSA) before going ahead. The minister. had hoped for a three-month turnaround, but even this stop-gap solution looks unlikely. Meanwhile, it's estimated that the current backlog of expired drivers' licences now exceeds 600 000, reports TopAuto . Likewise, papers filed by the department in the High Court request a complete re-run of the tender process, which was originally awarded to French firm, Idemia. SA motorists will be given six months' grace if found driving without a valid driver's licence. However, you must be able to produce proof of renewal. Image: File Moreover, the sustainability of the DOT's ambitious new licence system is now in doubt. The department wanted fully digital, connected Driver's Licence Card Accounts (DLCA), but irregularities in the original tender procurement process could put pay to that elaborate idea, in favour of something more cost effective. The Audit General of SA's report found that Idemia had, 'failed to meet key bid technical requirements.' Primarily when it came to inadequate budget analysis and inconsistent application scoring. As a result, a backlog of expired drivers' licences continues to grow as the current, outdated printing machine suffers from frequent breakdowns. South Africa's aged card printing machine should have been replaced more than a decade ago. Image: File Furthermore, papers filed by the department outline other flaws in the tender application process. Including a R400-million cost escalation from the Cabinet-approved budget of R486 million, resulting in a total of R886 million. Even at this elevated cost, the successful tender used outdated pricing and omitted basic printing material costs, which would have increased taxpayer expense further still. It is unclear whether Idemia will oppose the DOT's court challenge. Meanwhile, anyone who awaiting expired drivers' licences is exempt from fines for six months. However, they must be able to show a renewal receipt as proof. At the start of July 2025, the number of expired drivers' licences waiting in the system were 602 831. 192 856 of which were destined for Gauteng, 86 862 for the Western Cape and 85 313 in backlog for KwaZulu-Natal. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Legal limbo: SA's R898 million driver's licence contract with IDEMIA still unresolved
The Department of Transport is facing numerous questions regarding the R898 million smart driving licence cards tender awarded to Idemia. Image: Supplied Six months after the Department of Transport announced plans to approach the courts for a declaratory order on a controversial contract with French tech firm IDEMIA, the matter has yet to be heard. The R898 million contract, awarded to IDEMIA to supply equipment for printing South Africa's driver's licences, is in limbo. The deal came under scrutiny after a separate IDEMIA contract with Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) was cancelled following a dispute with its BEE partner, Infoverge. The fallout prompted Transport Minister Barbara Creecy to review the IDEMIA deal. The Auditor-General was called in, and the findings flagged significant procurement irregularities and non-compliance with key tender requirements. In response, Creecy halted IDEMIA's work pending the outcome of a legal challenge. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has halted IDEMIA's contract, calling on the Auditor-General to review the procurement process Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'It's mind-boggling that six months later, nothing has been done and the country is left to suffer,' said Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) CEO Wayne Duvenage. 'If the minister hadn't announced plans to go to court, we would have filed papers to have the IDEMIA contract overturned.' Transport spokesperson Collen Msibi confirmed the legal process is now moving forward. 'We finalised our court papers in the past two weeks and are ready to apply for a declaratory order,' said Msibi. A declaratory order is a legal ruling that clarifies the rights and obligations of parties in a dispute. This follows IDEMIA's warning that it would contest any attempt to cancel the contract. Asked what would happen if the court rules against IDEMIA, Msibi said contingency plans are in place. 'We have other service providers, and the Department of Home Affairs already has a printing facility we can use,' she said. Friederike Lyon, a France-based spokesperson for IDEMIA, said the company maintains it 'legitimately and lawfully' secured the tender and is willing to address concerns raised by the Auditor-General. 'IDEMIA has noted the Department of Transport's decision to seek a declaratory order. While some findings fall outside our scope, those relating to IDEMIA do not reflect the reality of our operations. We remain fully committed to working with the government to clarify any issues and ensure South Africans benefit from secure, advanced driver's licence solutions,' Lyon said. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel. Cape Argus
Bloomberg
07-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Advent Gears Up for Sale of Idemia's Public Security Unit
Advent is moving ahead with a potential sale of French biometrics firm Idemia 's public security unit, people familiar with the matter said, following a deal to dispose the smart identity business. The US private equity firm is working with advisers including Rothschild & Co. on the transaction and could start a formal process as soon as September, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. The unit, which provides services including airport security and facial recognition, could be valued at €2 billion ($2.3 billion) to €3 billion in a sale, the people said.
The Citizen
04-07-2025
- 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
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Inside Idemia's Noida nerve centre
Photo/TNN Typical global capability centres (GCCs) focus on delivering services to support global operations. Here's one with a difference. French identity and security solutions provider Idemia's India operations not only support services, but also manufactures payment and connectivity products including payment cards, subscriber identity module (SIM) cards for smartphones, and chips that go into security and payment devices globally. These are chips embedded on credit, debit and other payment cards, and even driving licences. The GCC supports internal operations such as HR and finance, it plays a crucial role in R&D, and delivers comprehensive support to global customers across banking, fintech, telecom, utilities, public services, security agencies, and more. Matthew Foxton, regional president at Idemia, says they established the GCC at Noida in 2004, when there were no similar centres focused on chip card development. 'We created an indigenous operating system for SIM cards, driving licenses and vehicle registration certificates. This has now matured and India is a global hub for us for services, R&D and manufacturing,' he says. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo There are around 5,000 employees in India, and the centre is the company's largest hub outside Europe. Around 1,500 of the employees are in three manufacturing units in Noida, located at the Noida Special Economic Zone (SEZ). Idemia also has a service centre in Mumbai. Within the Noida SEZ, three facilities churn out SIM cards, chips embedded in payment cards, biometric devices and handheld scanners that are used across global markets – by global telcos, airports, banks, fintech companies and even gover nment agencies. Customers include the likes of Westpac Banking Corporation, Amex, HSBC, Boeing, SK Telecom, Deutsche Telecom, and KT Corporation. Noida also has a unit that's into packaging chips directly from wafers. Quantum cryptography research The GCC is also a global research hub, driving innovation in post-quantum cryptography or PQC, facial recognition, eSIMs, and more. PQC is the development of cryptographic algorithms that are resistant to attacks by quantum computers. In 2024, Idemia entered into a collaboration with IIT Hyderabad to develop solutions to future-proof digital security against quantum-enabled cyber threats. 'Post-quantum cryptography is about developing encryption standards that can withstand quantum computing attacks. And India is at the centre of this effort,' says Foxton. The team here is also working to perfect AI-driven security solutions like face recognition algorithms. The effort is to recognise faces even if the person is wearing a mask. This ability to integrate both high-tech research and handson production has made Idemia India indispensable to the company's global ambitions. The India GCC, Foxton says, plays a strategic role in powering global innovation and product roadmap. 'Our India centre contributes across our entire product portfolio – from mobile SIMs and green payment cards (ecofriendly, made from recycled materials) to biometric access devices and border control systems,' he says. At least 10 innovators from the India team have been granted patents for their work in security and identity domains. Foxton says that as AI and quantum computing reshape digital security, the India team is expected to play a pivotal role in defining what's next in security. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
