LATEST on 2025 SA smart ID card applications

Home Affairs addresses ‘technical constraints’ regarding 2025 SA smart ID card applications for permanent residents and naturalised citizens …

Failure of past leadership is why 2025 SA smart ID card applications are so behind. Image: File

Finally, the Department Home Affairs (DHA) is acknowledging the pervasive issues stalling 2025 SA smart ID card applications for naturalised citizens and permanent residents. It’s a topic The South African is acutely aware of thanks to numerous messages from our audience. Basically, if you’re born in South Africa you will have never experienced the same issues naturalised citizens have with the powers that be.

Now, Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber has addressed the ‘technical constraints’ that persist for permanent residents and naturalised citizens in getting a smart ID card, reports BusinessTech. Furthermore, the minister says the department is ‘acutely aware’ of the distress this issue is causing non-SA-born applicants.

2025 SA SMART ID CARD APPLICATIONS

While the department and President Ramaphosa continue to talk-up 2025 SA smart ID card applications going fully digital, this still only applies to South African citizens. Naturalised citizens and permanent residents still complain about being turned away at DHA branches. Furthermore, the old ‘green mamba’ ID booklets are only issued at selected (often remote) locations. This causes yet more inconvenience for those who believe they’re being treated like ‘second-class citizens’.

Now, the minister has finally come clean on why this issue continues to persist. Dr. Schreiber says IT constraints are an ongoing obstacle to 2025 SA smart ID card applications. “Since assuming office, I have sped-up the work to enable all qualifying persons to obtain smart ID cards. However, severe IT constraints have emerged as a major obstacle in this regard. And urgent work is needed to resolve the challenges, but it is being addressed with the necessary urgency,” confirmed the minister.

SERIOUS IT ISSUES

In short, due to the failings of previous ministers, permanent residents and naturalised citizens are not properly captured on the DHA system. This creates numerous IT issues for 2025 SA smart ID card applications. As a result, work is being done to expand and improve this access through IT systems upgrades. However, the process for permanent residents and naturalised citizens must be done manually. This is why prospective applicants are being invited one by one. Nevertheless, despite the challenges, it remains a ‘top priority’ for the department to resolve.

Meanwhile, the DHA is on a drive to promote 2025 SA smart ID applications as part of its digital-first strategy. The lofty ambition is that the issuance of old ID booklets will start to wind down by the end of this year. Furthermore, residents should consider upgrading due to the technological upgrades within the cards. New biometric technology modernises the issuance process and also eliminates any human vulnerabilities. However, just 26-million smart ID cards have been issued in more than a decade. This is far short of the 38-million target government has set itself.

SAFE AGAINST IDENTITY THEFT

Facial recognition and fingerprint authentication are all part of the 2025 smart ID cards benefits. The department says ID documents are being manipulated in both the handling and processing phase, leading to identity theft. Therefore, the latest biometrics will put pay to that issue. There is also a chip-storage facility for the holder’s data. This is laser-engraved to prevent tampering.

Here’s what you can do to apply for yours and upgrade from the ‘green mamba’:

Visit the Department of Home Affairs eHome website and navigate to Branch Appointment Booking System (BABS).
Input your SA ID number, hit Next, and follow the prompts to complete all the relevant forms. Click Authenticate when complete.
Select Schedule Appointment to choose the nearest/preferred DHA branch. Do this by selecting your Province and City using the menu. Choose and the date range that suits you and/or is available via Find Slots. Click the Agree checkbox and Confirm once done.
The DHA will send an SMS to the cellphone number you inputted with your date, time and reference number. To get SMS updates, simply SMS the word ‘ID’ followed by your ID number to 32551. You will be charged R1 per SMS sent.
At the appointment you will have your fingerprints and ID photograph taken. From there, you will receive an SMS telling you when you can collect your new SA smart ID card.
The application is free for any 16-year-old first-time applicant. However, anyone older than 16-years of age and/or replacing a lost ID document must pay R140.