Thousands of smart ID cards unclaimed at local Home Affairs branches

Citizens urged to collect their smart ID cards as over 5 000 sit at the Richards Bay, Empangeni and eShowe branches

53 seconds ago

Gugu Myeni 1 minute read

There are more than a thousand uncollected smart ID cards at the Richards Bay Home Affairs branch

More than 5 000 smart ID cards are yet to be collected at Home Affairs branches in King Cetshwayo District.

This includes 1 452 cards at the Richards Bay branch, 2 957 in Empangeni and 1 519 in eShowe.

The public is being urged to use the current extended operating hours at local branches to apply for and collect their identity documents.

Home Affairs announced last week that branches will be open until 6pm over the school winter holidays to allow learners and members of the public to apply and collect their smart IDs.

King Cetshwayo District director Nana Mthembu said, while thousands of cards are uncollected at the various branches, there are also many green ID books that are yet to be collected.

More than 700 green ID books lie uncollected at the Richards Bay, eSikhaleni, Empangeni, eShowe, Melmoth, Nkandla and Lindela branches.

The public is also encouraged to use the upgraded online booking system to secure appointments at local branches.

This comes as the government moves to eliminate the fraud-prone green ID book.

The department is expected to set a date by which the green books will no longer be recognised.

Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber said a record four million smart IDs were issued in 2025/26, over 1.3 million more than the previous annual average.

Schreiber said they are setting a new annual record to accelerate the elimination of the green book.

“The green ID book is often cited as the most defrauded document on the African continent,” said Schreiber.

“It sits at the heart of identity theft and illegal immigration.

“By rapidly scaling up access to the smart ID, Home Affairs finally has a clear roadmap towards ensuring every South African can switch away from the green ID book, enabling us to eventually stop recognising it as a valid form of identification.

“This will eliminate fraud and identity theft linked to the green ID book, striking a major blow in favour of the rule of law,” he said.

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