Are the new ID smartcards necessary?

R5.3 billion was put aside to launch the new ID smart cards which, according to the Department of Home Affairs, “will be extremely difficult to forge.”

This project was launched on 18 July 2013.

Residents have been informed that their green Identity Document (ID) books will not be valid in about seven years.

“Our intention is to issue at least 100 000 smart cards by 31 March 2015. The smart card uses modern biometric technology to record details on a chip on the card,” Home Affairs Minister, Naledi Pandor in a press statement, said.

An additional service has also been introduced. Residents will be able to dodge the long, tiring queues at Home Affairs from April as they will be able to apply for their smart cards at banks too. No forms have to be filled in, all you need is to take a photograph, have your fingerprints taken and sign electronically.

Although some residents are opposed to the idea of using smart cards, others are in favour of them.

Elize Greyling from Krugersdorp is against the implementation of the smartcards. She believes that the rate of fraud will increase. “It is going to cost people. Why do they [Home Affairs] want to fix something that is not broken? It is easy to copy cards these days. If they [fraudsters] can copy bank cards, imagine what they could do to ID cards?”

Merlyn Samuels from Davidsonville says it is very practical. “Coming from an unsourced point of view, its [ID smart card] very practical in a sense that it’s easy access to identity information. It is also a very secure method, because people can easily identify when you have a fake drivers license and now, too, with the new ID smart card.”

She later added that it would benefit foreigners. “It’s a very good opportunity for immigrants to apply for legal citizenship and to play active roles in society and also, to contribute towards growth and development of the country.”

A daily newspaper reported that a “South African company Tech Card Solutions was awarded the R40 million tender to supply the Government Printing Works with card personalisation machines and an automated mailing solution, manufactured by Data Card in the US.”