Smart card ID’s coming soon to Dundee

Dundonians can bid farewell to their old green bar-coded identity books and welcome the new Smart Card IDs, which will be rolled out between October and December of this year.
“These cards will be rolled out in two phases,” said Minka Terblanche, Regional Office Manager at Amajuba Home Affairs. “During the first phase, all 16-year-old who have never had IDs before and pensioners over 60 will be invited to apply. During the second phase all others will be invited to apply. However, a service fee of R140 will be charged if the client has had an ID before.”
The application process will be similar to that of the green bar-coded document. If you are a South African citizen the current green bar-coded ID is all that is required to apply, and in the case of first-time applicants, birth certificates and proof of address are needed. Minors are to be accompanied by a parent. The new card will be available 14 working days after the application is made, provided all requirements are met.
With the introduction of the new Smart Card IDs, the current ones will be phased out in six to seven years. The new system will protect ID-holders from identity theft, as well as fraudulent activities related to drivers’ licences, social grants and insurance. It will be more difficult for people to hack, intercept or duplicate the card as it contains additional security features.
“This innovation will improve service delivery and make identification easier,” said Terblanche. Dundonians had better prepare themselves to step on the E-governance bandwagon and welcome the new IDs with open arms.