Bad news for anyone using their driving licence as ID in South Africa
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has warned South Africans that they cannot use their driving licences as identification to vote on Wednesday, 4 November—a week from now.
This comes amid broader plans to change the country’s laws to prevent licences and other traffic-related documentation from being used as ID.
Regarding election day, the DHA stressed that only Smart IDs, green ID books, and valid temporary ID certificates can be used to vote.
“Driver’s licences, passports, student cards or photocopies of ID documents are not accepted for voting purposes,” it said.
With the Local Government Elections fast approaching, South Africans have been urged to apply for and collect ID documents without delay.
Registered voters can only make their mark on Election Day on 4 November if they possess an acceptable identity document, the department warned.
“Citizens, who still need to replace a lost or damaged identity document ahead of the elections, are urged to make use of Home Affairs offices or the more than 450 participating bank branches to acquire their documents and not wait until the last minute,” it said.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said that the department’s new systems make the process of getting a valid ID faster and smoother than ever.
The department has rolled out digitalised Smart ID services at bank branches across the country, hitting the milestone of 669 branches this week.
When combined with Home Affairs offices and the department’s mobile units, Schreiber said that there are over 1,000 points of presence where South Africans can access these services.
The minister added that the digital partnership will also be expanded before the end of the year to include applications for adult and minor passports, and first-time Smart ID card applications.
In the next major milestone, identity documents will be delivered directly to citizens’ homes, he added.
End of driving licence IDs
While South Africans using their driving licence as ID can’t do so on voting day, there are also wider plans to do away with the method in the country.
The Department of Transport plans to amend the National Road Traffic Regulations to stop the use of Traffic Register Number (TRN) certificates, and learner’s and driving licences as identity documents.
The change would prevent people from using driving licences, learner’s licences, or TRNs as secondary proof of identity, forcing them to carry official IDs instead.
According to the Transport Department, an investigation with Home Affairs revealed widespread abuse of these documents.
It added that the use of TRNs and driving licences as a general identification document is contrary to the Identification Act, 1997.
The Act mandates that Home Affairs be the sole authority for maintaining the National Population Register and issuing identification documents.
“The amendments are therefore necessary to remove legal ambiguity, stop abuse, and align road traffic legislation with the Identification Act,” it said.
If approved, the amendments will have implications for other institutions, such as banks, offices, residential estates and other places that currently accept driving licences as valid ID.
These documents would only be permitted for use with road traffic-related transactions.
With SA News
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