South Africa to Eliminate Green ID Books to Combat Fraud

The Department of Home Affairs is working to eliminate the barcoded green ID book in South Africa. This move aims to prevent fraud and corruption in the country.

On October 29, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Njabulo Nzuza presented to the portfolio committee. He emphasized the need to transform the department into a digital office. This change is vital for rooting out fraud and corruption.

Nzuza highlighted the problem of fraudulent activities, especially concerning illegal South African citizenship. These issues have undermined the integrity of important documents like IDs.

“Corruption is a constantly changing problem,” said Nzuza. The Department has strengthened its counter-corruption program. It has also increased the capacity of its anti-fraud unit. “Criminals never rest, and neither should we,” he added.

Going Digital

The Deputy Minister stressed that digitization will have a significant positive impact. The main goal is to eliminate paper records. He noted that the process of digitization began under the previous administration and is showing results.

However, the green barcoded ID book remains a challenge. “We have to eliminate the green barcoded ID,” Nzuza stated. He believes that once this is done, the department can move further into the digital realm.

Currently, fraudsters can easily access paper documents, costing the state millions of rands. “As we try to improve systems, criminals also improve,” Nzuza explained. The department aims to stay ahead of these challenges.

Smart ID Rollout

To combat these issues, the department is pushing for a quicker rollout of Smart IDs. It also aims to make other services, like passport applications, more accessible.

Of the 323 Home Affairs offices in the country, only 208 currently have live capture capabilities for Smart IDs and passports. The department has introduced 227 mobile units with similar capabilities to reach more areas.

They are also partnering with over 30 bank branches to provide these services, with more partnerships planned in shopping malls. The goal is to issue 2.5 million Smart ID cards this financial year.

Digital Transformation

Digital transformation is key to the department’s plan. They aim to use apps and technology to minimize the need for clients to visit Home Affairs offices.

Minister Leon Schreiber has launched a new five-year strategic vision to make Home Affairs a digital-first department from 2024 to 2029.

Looking ahead, the department is exploring ATM-like kiosks for self-service re-issuance of documents. Once systems are running smoothly, they may offer a premium service for faster processing, possibly at a higher cost.