Big announcement for South Africans with green ID books
New developments will make it much easier for South Africans with green ID books to apply for new Smart ID cards.
The Department of Home Affairs wants to phase out green barcoded ID books in South Africa to limit widespread ID fraud and identity theft.
The department warned South Africans who still use green ID books and who have not upgraded to smart ID cards that they are at risk of having their identities stolen.
However, many South Africans are putting off upgrading to smart ID cards because they dread dealing with Home Affairs.
Home Affairs offices are notoriously inefficient and are associated with poor service levels, long queues, unfriendly staff, and systems regularly going offline.
There is hope on the horizon. Last month, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber unveiled a new five-year strategic vision to make his department digital-first.
This digital transformation aims to make it easier for South Africans to engage with the Department of Home Affairs and obtain what they need.
Dubbed “Home Affairs @ home”, Schreiber wants to make it possible for people to offer most services to South African citizens online.
“Over the next five years, all of the department’s services must become fully automated, digitised, and offered online,” Schreiber said.
Simply put, South Africans will be able to renew their passport or apply for a new Smart ID without visiting a Home Affairs office in person.
Schreiber said they will replicate the systems the banks and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) use to serve clients online.
People seeking civic services, like obtaining or replacing an ID, passport, or certificate, can apply online through a secure platform linked to their biometrics.
Even better news is that people’s Smart ID, passport, and other documents will be sent directly to the person’s door without the need to visit a Home Affairs office.
Schreiber said online applications and home deliveries will be available to people living in South Africa and abroad.
It does not stop there. The Minister 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.
This is good news for South Africans with green ID books who still have to apply for and receive their new Smart IDs.
The government is promoting the use of smart ID cards to replace green ID books. Deputy minister Njabulo Nzuza said the goal is to issue 2.5 million smart ID cards this financial year.
However, despite this drive, the Department of Home Affairs is not issuing enough smart IDs to rapidly replace green ID books.
The slow pace means green ID books will likely remain valid for many years in South Africa. This will allow many people to wait for the new online system to kick in before applying.
For those who do not want to wait and still want to avoid visiting a Home Affairs branch, getting a new Smart ID at a bank branch is possible.
The Department of Home Affairs’ pilot project, which involves staff being placed in bank branches to facilitate smart ID card applications and passport renewals, is expanding.
The service supports online appointments, form submissions, and payment processing to significantly speed up the process and reduce queuing time.
The service is currently available at around 30 Absa, Discovery Bank, FNB, Nedbank, and Standard Bank branches.
The number of bank branches offering Smart ID applications is set to double, making it easy for South Africans to replace their green ID books.
Read: New bank branches for Smart ID and passports in South Africa incoming