The initiative will extend smart ID card availability to all South African citizens, including previously excluded groups such as naturalized citizens and permanent residents. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced that the department will “work flat-out” to ensure universal access to smart ID cards as part of their “Home Affairs @ Home” vision.
A cornerstone of the expansion is a significant scaling up of the DHA’s banking sector partnership. The department aims to increase smart ID and passport services from the current 30 bank branches to potentially thousands nationwide, with Minister Schreiber emphasizing the goal of providing access “in every village, town, city, and suburb in South Africa.”
The program builds upon IDEMIA’s recent 10-year contract to upgrade South Africa’s ID system, which includes the provision of 80 million smart ID cards and implementation of comprehensive biometric enrollment capabilities.
The new security measures being implemented include biometric verification using fingerprints or facial recognition, SMS and email alert systems for account changes, two-factor authentication for online services, AI-powered fraud detection, and enhanced identity verification protocols.
The DHA is also introducing a home delivery option for ID documents and passports, similar to existing banking card delivery services. This addition aims to improve convenience and accessibility for citizens.
The push to phase out older green ID books is supported by recent fraud analysis, with the Smile ID’s 2024 Digital Identity Fraud report identifying South Africa’s green ID book as the continent’s most frequently targeted identity document for fraud.
Minister Schreiber emphasized that digital transformation is crucial to combat fraud, stating that vulnerabilities will persist until Home Affairs becomes “a digital-first department.”
The comprehensive overhaul of South Africa’s national identification system represents one of the country’s most significant identity infrastructure modernization efforts to date, with full implementation targeted for 2025.
Source: BizNews
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February 4, 2025 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team
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