Cape town: Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber says government is laying the foundation for an ambitious plan to create South Africa’s first ever Digital ID system. ‘Home Affairs will shortly submit a Digital ID policy to Cabinet for approval to conduct public hearings. Beyond the material benefits, such as clamping down on fraud and enhancing inclusion, the Digital ID system will also restore the integrity and pride of our cherished South African identity,’ said the Minister. He was delivering the department’s Budget Vote in Parliament on Tuesday.
According to South African Government News Agency, Schreiber said the department plans to deliver digital versions of enabling documents that can be accessed online and on smart devices. ‘[The] Digital ID will also enable users to remotely authenticate themselves, laying the foundation for a digital revolution not only for government services, but also for critical private sector services like banking, finance and insurance.’
The Minister declared government’s commitment to digital transformation through the initiative called Home Affairs @ home. ‘We call this vision Home Affairs @ home. Our goal is nothing less than revolutionising the way citizens interact with their government by moving from manual to digital,’ said the Minister. He emphasized building a new reform model based on decentralisation, modernisation, digital transformation, and remote access to restore hope for the entire nation.
The Minister highlighted the department’s achievements, including delivering nearly 3.6 million Smart IDs, clearing a decade-long visa backlog, and deporting over 46,000 illegal immigrants. He stated that the reforms in Home Affairs, Border Management Authority, and Government Printing Works are showing significant progress.
Minister Schreiber confirmed that all qualifying categories of persons are now able to obtain Smart IDs, with plans to scale up access. The department aims to expand the pilot project delivering Smart ID and passport services in bank branches, with a target to include 100 more branches this financial year.
Further, the department will introduce home delivery for Smart IDs and passports, leveraging advanced facial recognition technology. The reform aims to end the production of new Green ID books by the end of the year, enhancing security and dignity for all citizens.
Additionally, new facilities will be launched abroad to assist South Africans living overseas, ensuring a five-week turnaround time for IDs and passports, starting in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates, with further expansions planned for later this year and into the next.