A new digital identity system will make the green ID book in South Africa obsolete. Speaking in his 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA) earlier this month (6 February), President Ramaphosa said enhanced ‘digital public infrastructure’ would eventually put pay to the green ID book in South Africa, reports BusinessTech.
However, Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber says there is no need to panic if you still haven’t upgraded to the smart ID card. Because even though the department wants to stop issuing the green ID book in South Africa in 2025, they will still remain valid for the foreseeable future. Specifically, the department wants to ‘get its house in order’ as part of an internal target to become fully digitised, reports Daily Investor.
GREEN ID BOOK IN SOUTH AFRICA
Furthermore, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Njabulo Nzuza came out earlier in the year about security risks associated with the green ID book in South Africa. The old booklets are more likely to be involved in identity theft in South Africa. And once identities are stolen, criminals can access credit, loans, banks, schools, universities and more.
This is why the smart ID card with biometric features and digital verification is a worthy upgrade from the green ID book in South Africa. Moreover, digital integration is the goal for President Ramaphosa’s ambitious new digital public infrastructure. So much more than just an ID document, essentially, South Africans will be able to access all government services through a relaunched gov.za platform.
ALL GOVERNMENT SERVICES IN ONE
Imagine, NATIS for your vehicle licence, SARS for your tax return, SASSA for your grant, NHI for your healthcare and Home Affairs for your smart ID, all together in one. The new venture is being headed by SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter. And the plan is that every citizen gets a single Unique Digital Identifier (UDI) accompanying their smart ID card. Any transaction with the government is attached to that UID. This ensures that all government branches are interconnected and kept up to date at all times.
Meanwhile, Home Affairs says that it is exceeding its targets for issuing smart IDs in 2025. Minister Schreiber said last month that his department is on track to process 3.6 million. This is already one-million above its set target, and far exceeding the amounts delivered in previous years, reports BusinessTech.
STONGEST PERFORMANCE IN A DECADE
Furthermore, between 1 October and 31 December 2024, 970 543 smart IDs were issued, versus a quarterly target of 575 000. Similarly, between 1 July and 30 September 2024, 895 125 smart IDs were issued against a target of 625 000. This represents, by quite some margin, the strongest performance since smart IDs were first introduced back in 2013. “This performance also inspires us to work even harder to ensure that all qualifying persons are able to ditch the green ID book in South Africa and obtain smart IDs before the end of calendar year 2025,” concluded the minister.
Below is a list of eligibility requirements for a new smart ID card application:
- You must be at least 16-years old.
- If you’re foreign born, a government-issue ID/passport from the country of your birth may be used as dentification.
- ID or travel documents from the old Transkei, Bophutatswana, Venda or Ciskei homelands will be accepted.
- Bring along your original birth certificate for a first-time applicant.
- Any documentation verifying legal guardianship in the event of adoption.
- As parents of a first-time applicant, you will need to present your own parental IDs.
- In the event of deceased parents, you must supply the death certificates of any and all deceased parents (if applicable).
- Bring a proof of address (utility bill with your name and address clearly stated on it).
- For naturalised citizenship, produce your valid permanent South African resident certificate.
- In the event of a lost/stolen ID document, bring a sworn and signed police affidavit including a police case number.
- A replacement ID costs R140.
ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF DIGITAL IDENTITIES?
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