Rumours that the green bar-coded identification document (ID) books will be discontinued on March 31 have surfaced again on social media. These have been denied by Home Affairs Director General, Mkuseli Apleni.

The rumours have put many Home Affairs offices under severe pressure – including the one in Dundee – as people rush to register for their smart ID before the so-called deadline.  Mr Apeleni described the rumours as fales.

“As you will indeed understand, these false messages are putting our offices under extreme pressure, unduly, as people rush there in their numbers to get smart ID cards, ” he said in a statement.

Man has two I.D. books issued by Home Affairs

“Our offices cannot, and will not turn people away, and therefore they have to battle with long queues, with people standing in the heat, fuming. This is a situation to which we do not want to subject citizens and officials. It is in our interest that citizens should apply for and receive their secured smart ID cards; it is in their interest and in that of the country. But this has to be done systematically.

“When we rolled out the smart ID cards, in July 2013, our data showed that 38 million people were in possession of the green-barcoded ID books. As informed by studies we had conducted, we had then set out a strategy for a smooth roll-out.

“For instance we knew that one workstation can handle 28 card applications per day. It takes 17 minutes on average to finalise the capturing of an application. On average, an office with 3 computers is expected to take in 84 applications per day. We were therefore able to estimate how many cards we could produce at a given time with the number of automated offices we had, that were equipped with live capture.

We intend to continue rolling out additional smart ID card offices in order to cover the majority of our population in all provinces.

“As a result, when we started, we had invited first time applicants and senior citizens to be the first to apply for smart ID cards, free of charge. This was based on our capacity at the time.. With more offices, with automated systems, and reinforced by 14 bank branches on eHomeAffairs, we proceeded to extend coverage to other sections of the population, which sections, unlike first time applicants, had some form of identification, in the form of the green-barcoded ID books.

“Of our 411 offices, 184 are currently with live capture, which can process applications for smart ID cards and passports; 227 offices are still to be modernized. We intend to continue rolling out additional smart ID card offices in order to cover the majority of our population in all provinces.

“Discussions with participating banks are continuing to increase capacity, through additional bank branches. Participating banks are Absa, FNB, Nedbank and Standard.

‘Dirty’ Home Affairs slammed

“Again we encourage those with access to the internet to apply for their smart ID cards and passports online, using the eHomeAffairs portal, which is accessible on the official Department of Home Affairs website – www.dha.gov.za, however, they can only finalise their applications in 14 banks of which 13 are in Gauteng and only 1 in Cape Town as pilot sites.

With online applications, on eHomeAffairs, you do not have to queue. At DHA offices, we do not use a booking or appointment system, for reasons of access for all people. Our service delivery model is on ‘a first come first served basis’.

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