Big announcement for people with green ID books
The Department of Home Affairs is on a drive to eliminate green ID books in South Africa to combat fraud and corruption.
The 16-page barcoded green ID book was launched in 1980 and has served South African citizens well for four decades.
However, technological advances made green ID books susceptible to modification and forgery by fraudsters and identity thieves.
Criminals hijack people’s ID numbers and use fake green ID books to access credit, loans, and other financially compromising services.
Identity theft has become such a problem that Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber warned South Africans with green ID books that they face significant risks.
To address the problem, the Department of Home Affairs is replacing these ID books with smart ID cards.
Schreiber warned people who have not upgraded to smart ID cards that they are at risk of having their identities stolen.
During a portfolio committee meeting this week, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Njabulo Nzuza reiterated the importance of moving to smart IDs.
Nzuza said it was important for the Department of Home Affairs to become a ‘digital office’ to root out fraud and corruption.
He said many people, including Home Affairs officials, were engaged in unlawful activity related to green ID books.
The department has made good progress moving from a paper-based record system to digital record-keeping. “Around 30 million records have been digitised,” he said.
The next step is to eliminate green barcoded ID books. “As soon as we do that, we can move into the digital space,” he said.
Schreiber previously revealed that the Department of Home Affairs aims to issue 2.5 million smart ID cards this financial year.
“We ultimately want everyone to get the smart ID. It will help the government if everyone has a more secure ID document,” he said.
Offering better services through digital channels
The Department of Home Affairs said moving to Smart IDs and digital platforms will make it easier to serve South Africans.
The digitisation drive includes modernising Home Affairs offices across South Africa to improve efficiency and service levels.
Only 208 of the 323 brick-and-mortar Home Affairs offices have live capture capabilities for smart IDs and passports.
To address this shortcoming, the department has launched 227 mobile units with the same capabilities to extend these services to underserved areas.
It is also working on other ways to fast-track the migration from green ID books to smart IDs, including partnering with banks.
There are currently 30 bank branches where people can get smart IDs, with more in the pipeline. It will also expand into shopping malls.
The department further revealed that it is investigating the rollout of ATM-like kiosks that will enable self-service document re-issuance.
Schreiber has previously said they want to fully automate the Department of Home Affairs over the next five years.
He wants to enable South Africans to renew their passport or apply for a new Smart ID without visiting a Home Affairs office in person.
To make this happen, the DHA is developing a system using facial recognition and biometrics to protect people’s identities.
South Africans will also be able to use this channel to order their passport or smart ID card through an online system.
Another big step is his plan to courier passports, Smart IDs, and other documents directly to the person’s door.
Schreiber said online applications and home deliveries will be available to people living in South Africa and abroad.
He also wants to make vital documents available in digital format on the client’s secure online profile and in a wallet app on their phone.
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