Home Affairs introduces smart card ID system

VRYHEID residents can now join fellow South Africans who are proud owners of smart card ID’s.

This follows a report issued by Muhammed Yousoof of the local Home Affairs, that residents could now visit their offices to get their smart ID from March 29.

Explaining how their systems would now be using advanced technology to help make things quick and fuss free, Mr Yousoof pointed out numerous ways in which Home Affairs was prepared to make serving the public an easy and efficient task.

ID photos will now be taken at Home Affairs, free of charge.

The smart card ID costs R140 to issue and residents are urged to bring this amount along, together with their green ID book (which needs to be deactivated), when going to apply.

“The smart card ID is available within 12 days after application and residents are urged to collect their own ID’s as there is a verification process that is done upon collection and this needs to be done by the rightful owner of the ID,” said Mr Yousoof.

Those applying for an ID for the first time, as well as senior citizens, will get their smart cards done for them for free.

“However, if a person loses their ID card, they will be charged the R140 fee when issuing a new one and will have to bring an affidavit stipulating that they have lost or misplaced the card,” Yousoof said.

The Department of Home Affairs has introduced its pilot “e-channel”, a system whereby a person can apply for their ID document online, pay by EFT then pop into their local bank to collect it, but Home Affairs’ Chief Director of Legal Services, Deon Erasmus, said that the system was currently only being tried out in Gauteng and had not been introduced to smaller towns.

For enquiries or to apply for a smart card ID, locals can visit Vryheid Home Affairs from March 29.