Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber warned South Africans with green ID books that they face significant risks.
Schreiber said green ID books, which are being replaced with smart ID cards, are extremely vulnerable to fraud and identity theft.
He said South Africans who still use green ID books and who have not upgraded to smart ID cards are at risk of having their identities stolen.
His department was behind many arrests and prosecutions of criminals engaged in identity theft and fraud as part of clamping down on this problem.
The increased problems with green ID books mean the Department of Home Affairs wants to phase them out in South Africa.
The government is on a drive to replace green ID books with smart ID cards, aiming 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.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Njabulo Nzuza said eliminating green ID books will create a far more secure environment.
He said many people, including Home Affairs officials, were engaged in unlawful activity related to green ID books.
This is partly why the department wants to move to an online system where citizens engage with a computer instead of people.
However, progress is slower than anticipated, and the department is not issuing enough smart IDs to replace green ID books fast enough.
One problem is that South Africans associate visiting a Department of Home Affairs branch with an unpleasant experience.
It is seen as inefficient and unfriendly, with long queues, unfriendly staff, systems regularly going offline, and slow delivery times.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber
Schreiber is aware of these problems and wants to move most services online to improve service delivery and increase efficiency.
“We also need to do much more to enable South Africans to obtain that smart ID card. We need to expand Home Affairs’ services,” he told ENCA.
To address the challenges, he unveiled a new digital-first strategy, “Home Affairs @ Home”. This strategy will allow citizens to engage with Home Affairs online.
“Over the next five years, all of the department’s services must become fully automated, digitised, and offered online,” Schreiber said.
He wants South Africans to be able to renew their passport or apply for a new Smart ID without visiting a Home Affairs office in person.
The Department of Home Affairs 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.
“While we are building this system, Home Affairs is expanding its footprint. We already have existing partnerships with the banks and retailers,” he said.
The Department of Home Affairs will also continue prosecuting and arresting identity theft criminals during the transition period.
