Important information for South Africans who still have green ID books

The Department of Home Affairs wants to eliminate green ID books in South Africa and has warned that those who still use them are at risk of fraud and corruption.

Last year, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber warned South Africans with green ID books that they are extremely vulnerable to fraud and identity theft.

The 16-page barcoded green ID book, launched in 1980, has not kept pace with technological advances, making it susceptible to modification and forgery.

Tertius Wait, a cloud engineer at iiDENTIFii, said green ID books are susceptible to physical damage and can be compromised through general wear and tear.

“This fragility presents severe security risks, as damaged ID books can be easily altered or forged, making them unreliable for secure identification,” he said.

The green ID book is also impractical and inefficient. It requires in-person validation and is difficult to integrate into digital verification systems.

These weaknesses make it easy for criminals to use modified or forged ID books to hijack people’s ID numbers and access credit, loans, and other financially services.

The South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) warned that identity theft is a serious problem in South Africa.

Scammers use people’s personal information to acquire retail or bank accounts and defraud people’s insurance, medical aid, and Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF). 

“In some instances, they impersonate you, and using social engineering, access your bank accounts and do transactions,” SABRIC said.

TransUnion, South Africa’s largest credit bureau, said Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes globally.

It said because identity theft is a ‘silent’ crime, it can go undetected for months, even years, while victims have enormous debts run up in their name.

Many cases of identity theft are only discovered when the victim starts receiving accounts and letters of demand for debt they know nothing about.

ID theft syndicates operating in South Africa sell fake Identity documents and identity profiles for very low prices, illustrating the problem with green ID books.

Move away from green ID books

The inherent weaknesses of green ID books mean the Department of Home Affairs is on a drive to eliminate them to combat fraud and corruption.

The department wants all South Africans to replace their green ID books with smart ID cards, which are far more secure.

Smart ID cards feature a chip storing the holder’s data, which is laser-engraved to prevent tampering.

GCIS CEO Phumla Williams said smart ID cards cut down on the fraudulent use of fake or stolen IDs, which is a major concern in South Africa.

The minister warned South Africans who still use green ID books that they are at risk of having their identities stolen.

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Njabulo Nzuza added that many people, including Home Affairs officials, were engaged in unlawful activity related to green ID books.

Nzuza said they are working hard to eliminate green barcoded ID books and become a ‘digital office’ to root out fraud and corruption.

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.

The Department of Home Affairs encourages people to replace their green ID book with a smart ID card through a Home Affairs branch or bank branches that offer the service.

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 of Home Affairs is also investing in technology to become fully automated in the next five years.

This will enable South Africans to renew their passport or apply for a new Smart ID without visiting a Home Affairs office in person.

The department plans to courier passports, Smart IDs, and other documents directly to the person’s door.