Ballito resident denied smart card ID

If you are not South African by birth, you will have to wait at least a year for you new smart card identity document.

This is what Ballito resident, Jenny Chapman was told when she wanted to apply for a smart card (the replacement for the green identity book) on November 11 at Tongaat Home Affairs.

“My husband went first and completed his application in no time, then it was my turn”, she said.

The first question asked was where she was born and she responded, “Kenya, East Africa”. This was where the trouble started.

The woman behind the counter told Chapman that “the system is not yet ready for immigrants”, which was a shock not only because it seemed ridiculous, but also because having lived in South Africa for more than half a century, the pensioner considers herself South African.

“I explained that I have a South African identity book and my husband is South African, but I was given the same answer.”

When inquiring when the system will be ready for immigrants, Chapman was informed that it could take a couple of years.

“The new system is not yet adapted to do smart cards for immigrants,” said KZN Home Affairs director, Tersia Hanekom.

“It will take at least one year until it will be ready, so people who are not born in South Africa will have to continue using their green ID books, which will be valid for a further seven years.”

So, if you are an immigrant living in South Africa, diarise your smart card application for some time in 2016.