When South Africans lined up in their millions to vote during our first democratic election in 1994, they all carried with them an ID, to verify who they were. For most it was a green barcoded ID, which not only allowed them to vote but also symbolised our new nation’s step to normality, as this ID was issued to all South Africans, irrespective of race.
In 2000 the Department of Home Affairs introduced certain changes to the ID to make it more secure and to combat identity theft and fraud. The new coat of arms appeared on the ID, and the photograph, which had previously been pasted in, was digitally printed in black and white on the first page.
The second generation green barcoded ID will now be replaced by a new smartcard ID containing a microchip embedded with biometric security features from July.
The roll-out of the next generation smartcard ID will go a long way to preventing identity theft and fraud. The smart ID card is a quantum leap from its predecessor. It uses sophisticated and secure technology systems to manage identity in South Africa. The information on the chip will be laser-engraved to prevent tampering. The smartcard will cut down on the fraudulent use of fake or stolen IDs, which is a major concern.
The media frequently carry articles of how people’s lives are affected when their identity has been stolen by fraudsters. Once unscrupulous individuals have compromised your identity, they can easily use your information to obtain loans or credit, and can even commit crimes in your name.
It’s frightening to think that your life could be stolen from you. In fact the fraud in your name could continue for months or even years before you find out about it, resulting in your financial credibility being destroyed.
Announcing the planned roll-out of the smartcard ID, Minister of Home Affairs Naledi Pandor said the smart IDs had strong security features to prevent fraud and corruption, while indicating that the old green ID book would be phased out. “We will get rid of the ID book, which is an old, antiquated document that is open to fraud,” she said.
Home Affairs will introduce the smartcard ID to new applicants as well as to reissue applicants. In the first phase of this project, 27 Home Affairs regional offices will process smartcard ID’s, with other offices following suit over the next three years.
Minister Pandor said the plan is to issue the smartcard ID to all South Africans over the next eight years and to phase out the existing green ID book. There are numerous benefits to this, most notably increased security for individuals.
Home Affairs director-general Mkuseli Apleni said the smartcards had security features which would make it difficult to use for fraudulent activities.
“You can’t change the photo, the card is durable. The card has a chip and in that chip is your biometric data,” Apleni said.
The turnaround time on the old green barcoded ID was about 54 days after application. It is envisaged that the new smartcard process will take only three days. The Department of Home Affairs has said that it is likely to be able to produce three million ID cards a year.
The Department plays a critical role in maintaining national security through effective and efficient identity management. A major part of this process is an accurate National Population Register. Minister Pandor said that the new smartcard ID would greatly assist in this process. “This will be a major step towards creating a modern, reliable population register,” she said.
The Government is also currently cleaning up its National Population Register by encouraging citizens with duplicate identities to seek assistance in resolving this matter as well as to call upon citizens to ensure they are accurately recorded in the National Population Register through fingerprint verification.
Next year we will celebrate 20 years of freedom and democracy and South Africans will take part in the country’s fifth democratic election. By then, thousands of people are likely to have been issued with the new smartcard ID, and they will make history when they present it to the presiding electoral officer before casting their vote.
Phumla Williams is acting CEO of the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)
