A notice purported to be from the Department Home Affairs announcing that the lifespan of the green bar-coded ID book comes to an end on 31 March next year is confirmed to be fake and residents are urged not to panic.
Home Affairs Provincial manager Thifhelimbilu Matshaya stated that the department was aware of the notice and referred Polokwane Observer to a statement released by the National Department of Home Affairs which explained that “No such announcement has been made by the department.”
The statement further states that the green bar-coded ID book remains a legal form of identification and will continue to be until such time that the Live Capture System is rolled out to all Home Affairs offices to enable South Africans to apply for Smart ID cards at their nearest offices.
“The department has developed a plan to systematically phase out the green ID book and ultimately consolidate the restoration, common citizenship, identity and dignity to South Africans,” statement read. The department called on South Africans to apply for Smart ID cards at any of the 180 offices across the country that are equipped with the Live Capture System.
Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
