SMART identity cards are now being offered at the uThungulu Department of Home Affairs (DHA) office in Richards Bay.
This is the first office in the district to be upgraded to offer smart ID cards and the roll-out began last Tuesday with more than 350 applications having been received.
According to DHA District Manager: Operations, Sikhosiphi Dlamini, the smart ID card will be rolled-out incrementally over the next few years and there is no charge for 16-year-olds, first time applicants and pensioners.
All applicants for smart ID cards no longer have to bring photographs as they will be done in the office.
The application procedure will involve capturing the applicant’s details on-line, digitally taking the applicant’s photograph and fingerprints.
‘What is also amazing about the smart ID card application is the turn-around time. On average, it takes less than two weeks to receive it.
‘The cards can only be collected by the applicants as they must be biometrically authenticated before smart ID cards are issued.
‘This means that parents cannot collect smart ID cards for their children nor can spouses collect for their partners.
‘We need to emphasise that the green bar-coded ID remains a legal form of identification until a date to be promulgated by the Minister of Home Affairs,’ he said.
The new cards were launched on Madiba Day, in an effort to continuously safeguard the identity and status of citizens.
The Richards Bay office hours are weekdays 7.30am to 4.30pm and 8.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday.
