South Africans Urged To Replace Green ID Books As Home Affairs Plans Phase-Out

The Department of Home Affairs has intensified its push to replace South Africa’s green ID books with Smart ID cards as it prepares to phase out the older form of identification.

Home Affairs Deputy Director-General for Operations Thulani Mavuso said the transition was already under way and encouraged people who still have green ID books to apply for the newer document.

Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Mavuso said green ID book holders should not wait until the final deadline is announced.

“The message is that we have to collect those documents because in the next two years, they will not be able to use their green ID book, but the Minister will, at an appropriate time, announce the timelines,” Mavuso said.

Why Home Affairs wants to replace green ID books

The move away from the green ID book is largely driven by concerns over the security of the document.

According to Mavuso, the older identity document is vulnerable to manipulation and does not provide the same level of security as the Smart ID card.

“As the President announced during the address in June, the ID book is a vulnerable document that needs to be outlawed”, he said.

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The department is therefore encouraging South Africans who have not yet made the switch to begin the process before the final phase-out timelines are announced.

The green ID book has been used by South Africans for decades, but the government has been steadily expanding the use of Smart ID cards as part of the modernisation of the country's identity system.

Smart ID applications expanded beyond Home Affairs offices

Home Affairs has also been working to make it easier for eligible South Africans to obtain Smart ID cards.

Smart ID services are now available at hundreds of participating bank branches across the country, giving eligible applicants another option when replacing their green ID books or applying for a Smart ID re-issue.

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This means eligible applicants do not necessarily have to visit a Home Affairs office to complete the process.

However, the bank-based service is currently limited to certain applications. People applying for an ID for the first time cannot yet use participating bank branches for the service.

More bank branches expected to offer Smart ID services

Home Affairs has indicated that the availability of Smart ID services through banks is expected to grow further.

The department plans to expand the programme to additional branches in the coming years as it seeks to make the transition from green ID books to Smart ID cards more accessible.

For now, South Africans who still rely on the green ID book have been urged to start making arrangements to obtain a Smart ID rather than waiting until the document is no longer accepted.

The final timelines for the phase-out are expected to be announced by the Home Affairs Minister at an appropriate time.