FB pixel

South Africa’s Home Affairs and EOH set for arbitration over $27M biometrics contract

South Africa’s Home Affairs and EOH set for arbitration over $27M biometrics contract
 

Counter claims between the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed EOH tech group continue over a R400 million (US$27.1 million) contract for an Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS). The contract was sourced by the DHA five years ago and it is still to go live. Now the two parties are expected to enter arbitration, reports South Africa’s ITWeb.

A binding decision is expected in three months.

This is the ABIS system intended to link an individual to all state institutions and private sector entities with a unique identifier. DHA is seeking reimbursement of some of the monies paid to EOH and vice versa, reports ITWeb.

This is not the only legal issue for the DHA and EOH. NEC Africa is taking them both to court to have a multimillion dollar biometrics contract with Idemia set aside. At the time EOH won the ABIS bid, it had a subcontractor agreement with Idemia.

The French firm was then appointed as EOH’s replacement on 31 March 2021, by which point the DHA had already paid EOH R224 million ($15.1 million). A new R191 million deal was made with Idemia to complete the project by October 2021, which has not happened although Idemia has told the court that the project will be completed. NEC Africa was one of the five original bidders for the contract and claims the agreement between the DHA and EHO is unconstitutional.

Forensic auditing of EOH and State Information Technology Agency senior staff allegedly shows an unlawful scheme to ensure EOH won the contract, reports ITWeb.

Article Topics

 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 

Latest Biometrics News

 

PNG launches birth registration legislation in landmark for national ID project

Papua New Guinea is taking a concrete step in making sure every citizen is officially recognized and able to access…

 

Yoti improves liveness detection pass rates

Digital identity and age estimation company Yoti has released new figures on its liveness detection technology, showing success rate improvements…

 

Inclusive digital ID poised for leap forward with QR codes, similar credentials

QR codes have been around for decades, but they and other similar technologies have only recently emerged as digital identity…

 

Age assurance debate simmers across EU with calls for stronger measures

Age checks remain in the headlines with new proposals from EU digital ministers to go further with legislation limiting social…

 

Yoti welcomes age assurance direction in UK Strategic Priorities

Yoti has weighed in on the UK government’s publication of its final draft Strategic Priorities for online safety. Prepared by…

 

AuthenticID and Darwinium execs pinpoint AI fraud weaknesses

AI always leaves a trace. Executives from AuthenticID and Darwinium agreed on this point, which offers a silver lining among…

Comments

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Biometric Market Analysis

DIGITAL ID for ALL NEWS

Featured Company

ID for ALL FEATURE REPORTS

BIOMETRICS WHITE PAPERS

BIOMETRICS EVENTS

EXPLAINING BIOMETRICS