A new way to identify South Africans
The 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA) revealed many things, including a new digital ID system for South Africans.
As reported by BusinessTech, President Cyril Ramaphosa shared vital information about this new ID system during his SONA on 6 February, revealing that the government would implement a new digital identity system which would be supported by enhanced digital public infrastructure.
“We will invest in digital public infrastructure to give South Africans access to government services anytime, anywhere, through a relaunched gov.za platform,” the President said.
“These measures will transform the relationship between citizens and government and create one government accessible to every person at a touch,” he also added.
SARS and Home Affairs at the helm
The South African Revenue Service (SARS), the SA Reserve Bank, as wel as the Department of Home Affairs have reportedly collaborated to implement this new ID system, with the hopes that it will help create a more streamlined way of identifying South African citizens.
How would the new ID system work?
Well, according to SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter, every South African would get a single, unique digital identifier (UDI) and an accompanying card.
In that way, the various government branches would be able to identify a person easily through one network.
Identities can be authenticated with fingerprints.
Kieswetter also said that the current system, with all its different platforms having their own identifiers, creates multiple opportunities for corruption.
He said that having a single, unique digital identifier and an accompanying card would remove many of these risks.
Do you think South Africa even needs a new ID sysytem?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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