Government14.01.2025

Good news for people who must replace their green ID book with a smart ID

South Africa’s home affairs minister, Leon Schreiber, said they would significantly expand the option to apply for a new ID card across South Africa.

He said the Department of Home Affairs wants to stop issuing green ID books in 2025 if they can.

“It is an internal target we are working towards to ensure that our department is fully invested in issuing smart IDs,” he said.

After this target has been achieved, the department will look at targets to eliminate green ID books and replace them with smart ID cards.

The Department of Home Affairs is on a drive to replace green barcoded ID books with smart ID cards to fight identity theft and other fraud.

Schreiber told eNCA that green ID books are behind most identity theft in South Africa as they are inherently insecure.

It is easy for criminals to change the photo in a green ID book and present themselves as the document’s owner.

The stolen identities are used to access credit, loans, or apply for higher education, creating significant headaches for the rightful holder of the ID.

Smart IDs are far more secure and feature biometric data to ensure that the person presenting the ID is indeed the rightful owner, significantly reducing the risk of identity fraud.

Many people still use green ID books because they dread going to a Department of Home Affairs branch and dealing with the ineffective system.

Schreiber and his team are actively addressing this. They want to make applying for a new smart ID card easy and pleasant.

He said they are expanding their footprint to ensure everyone in South Africa can get a smart ID.

Traditionally, the Department of Home Affairs used mobile units to reach areas where the service was unavailable.

The department has also invested in new office space, especially in shopping malls, to bring their services closer to citizens.

Leon Schreiber, South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs

The next phase is to invest more aggressively in partnerships to expand its footprint, which includes adding more bank branches to its network.

The Department of Home Affairs is currently present in 30 bank branches across South Africa, which will increase significantly.

“We want to dramatically expand our presence and cooperation with these banks. We are looking to rapidly grow this network,” he said.

“I am determined to expand Home Affairs services to hundreds of bank branches across the length and breadth of South Africa”.

Schreiber also told Daily Investor that the department’s biggest priority this year is to deliver “Home Affairs @ home.”

It includes introducing digital channels similar to online banking and enabling clients to have IDs and passports delivered to their doorsteps.

“All of these reforms are part of incrementally bringing Home Affairs closer to home for all South Africans,” he said.

Further good news is that the Department of Home Affairs is looking at innovative ways to make it cheaper for people to get a smart ID.

“We are not in a financial position to subsidise the smart ID cards. However, we are looking at innovative ways to lower the price,” Schreiber said.

He said many people with green ID books, especially those from poorer communities, do not want to pay additional fees to get a new ID document.

“There is nothing I can immediately announce in this regard, but it is top of mind for the department,” he said.

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