Government15.01.2025

Major smart ID problem

Swaziland-born David Gresham, a well-known independent record producer, publisher, promoter, radio and television personality and naturalised South African citizen, can’t apply for a smart ID card.

MyBroadband spoke to Gresham about his struggles in applying for a smart ID card despite having naturalised and contributed to the South African economy since at least 1993.

“I became a permanent resident in South Africa in 1962, coming in from Swaziland. I originally came to South Africa in around 1958/1959, and I had four years of school here,” he said.

“Then I went back to Swaziland, finished matric at St Mark’s school, and came to South Africa in 1962. I’ve been living here since, and I became a naturalised South African in 1993.”

He explained that applying for a South African passport is a significant challenge as it involves lengthy queues at Home Affairs offices, while his wife can apply for a passport or a smart ID at a bank branch.

Gresham has secured a South African passport. However, he is still stuck with the green ID booklet and cannot apply for a smart ID card.

“I tried to bring this up once, and they said: no, you’re not a South African-born citizen,” he said.

“I’m a citizen. What’s the difference? I live here. I pay tax, but I was ignored.”

Gresham established a successful music-producing and publishing business in South Africa, contributing to the country’s economy as an employer.

Phasing out the green ID book in favour of smart ID cards is a priority for the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), which it says the older document is at a higher risk of forgery.

While the DHA has allowed naturalised citizens to apply for the smart ID card, they must first secure an invitation to apply from the DHA’s director-general.

“I’m not even going to try that. It’s a waste of my time. I’m going to get this response, we’re looking at it, etc. Let them promulgate the law, and I’ll go and get it,” said Gresham.

South Africa’s old green ID book

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said his department will significantly expand the accessibility of applying for smart ID cards across South Africa. The goal is to halt the issuing of green ID books in 2025.

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

The department will then look at establishing targets for eliminating green ID books and replacing them with smart ID cards.

However, for this to happen, Home Affairs will have to allow permanent residents and naturalised citizens to apply for smart IDs.

Schreiber is doubling down on an X post on his page that he shared on Wednesday, 8 January 2025, where he said his department wants to allow all South Africans to apply for smart ID cards.

“Home Affairs will work flat-out this year to ensure that all South Africans are able to obtain Smart IDs as part of our vision to deliver Home Affairs @ Home,” he said.

The Home Affairs @ Home strategy involves expanding the department’s cooperation with banks to offer DHA services at their branches, offering home deliveries, and launching new online channels.

Schreiber’s emphasis on making smart ID cards available to “all South Africans” suggests that the DHA plans to allow naturalised citizens to apply for the document more widely.

In August 2024, Schreiber revealed that only 280 cards had been issued to naturalised citizens, with a further 697 in the pipeline.

“Once the system has been adjusted to verify compliant applications, all naturalised citizens will be able to visit any Home Affairs office equipped with live-capture facilities to apply for their smart ID cards,” he said.

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