ID notice a hoax, but residents are urged to apply for Smart cards
The notice, seemingly from the Department of Home Affairs, has been circulating on the social-media platform WhatsApp since last year.
Various locals have recently been at the receiving end of a notice stating that their green barcoded identity documents will no longer be valid from March 31. It states that only Smart IDs will be considered valid proof of identity.
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According to the department, this is a hoax. In a press release, a spokesman stated that no such announcement was made by the department. “We wish to make it clear that the green barcoded ID remains a legal form of identification and will continue to be until such time that the Live Capture System is rolled out to all home affairs offices.” This system is used to issue Smart ID cards – identity documents in the form of bank cards with chip technology.
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Although some Department of Home Affairs offices do not yet have the system, Mbombela’s office offers it. In addition to denying the veracity of the notice, the department urged residents to apply for their Smart ID cards when they are able to do so.
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