Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has turned to the courts to have a controversial contract for a driving licence card printing machine cancelled. The tender, awarded last year to French technology firm IDEMIA, is under scrutiny after the Auditor-General found it was irregularly granted.
The Auditor-General's report revealed that proper procurement procedures were not followed and that there were signs of manipulation in the tender process. As a result, Minister Creecy is seeking a declaratory order from the High Court to annul the contract.
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has expressed its support for the minister's move, noting that it had raised alarms about the contract’s irregularities. OUTA also provided authorities with a dossier highlighting a significant price increase in the contract—from the original R468 million to over R898 million.
CEO Wayne Duvenage further pointed out that the winning bidder, IDEMIA, had failed to meet key technical requirements outlined in the bid.
“We are grateful that the minister agrees and is taking this matter to court to have the tender cancelled. We also want to see accountability for those responsible for this manipulation,” Duvenage said.
He added, “It was so clear and obvious to us that this tender was manipulated.”