Alert for SASSA beneficiaries without smart ID cards

Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber warns that SASSA beneficiaries without smart ID cards are at increased risk of fraud and identity theft. Since taking over after the May 2024 elections, the new minister has been on a mission to fully reform the Department of Home Affairs, reports Daily Investor.

Key to his success is moving Home Affairs away from its archaic paper-based system and ensuring that every citizen is ‘digitised on their database’ with a new smart ID card. Now, following a spate of alleged data breaches and millions lost in fraudulent payments, he’s hoping SASSA beneficiaries without smart ID cards will heed the call to upgrade once and for all from the ‘green mamba’ ID booklet.

SASSA BENEFICIARIES WITHOUT SMART ID CARDS

By not upgrading to smart ID cards, SASSA recipients face significant risks in safeguarding their monthly grants, warns the department. Specifically, Home Affairs has seen increased problems with green ID booklets – and has had to increase prosecution of criminals engaged in identity theft and fraud. As a result, the department says it is starting to take steps to phase the ID booklet out in South Africa completely.

Every day SASSA beneficiaries without smart ID cards have been impacted in the following ways as a result of this increased policing. A controversial South African Social Security Agency biometric verification process for grant recipients requires a digital image of the beneficiary on the Home Affairs database for facial recognition. If you don’t have one uploaded, you’re more likely to be kicked out of the system.

SASSA GRANTS BEING REFERRED

As The South African reported recently, the CEO of SASSA revealed to parliament just how bad underspending for social grants has become over the last year. R1.5 million in social grants has been paid to SASSA and Postbank employees illegally. More stringent means testing and facial-recognition verification saw a R1.5-billion underspend on social welfare. The largest portions were for Child Support Grants (R792 million) and SRD grants (R591 million).

For SASSA beneficiaries without smart ID cards, your best plan of action to not risk losing your grant is to jump online and apply for a new ID card immediately. The cost is only R140 (it’s for free if you’re under the age of 16). At the appointment you will have to produce your old green ID booklet to be destroyed. And a valid driver’s licence/passport as a form of identification. Here’s everything else you need to know about the process …

UPGRADE TO A SMART ID CARD URGENTLY

• Don’t forget your proof of address (a utility bill with your name and address clearly stated on it that’s not older than three months).
• If you’re born elsewhere, you must produce a valid permanent resident certificate.
• If you’re foreign-born, a government-issue foreign identification card or passport originating from your country of your birth may be used as valid identification.
• ID or travel documents from the old Transkei, Bophutatswana, Venda or Ciskei homelands will be accepted.
• If you’re a first-time applicant (although not strictly relevant here) bring along a birth certificate.
• In the event of deceased parents, supply the death certificates all deceased parents.
• In the event of a lost/stolen ID document, you need a sworn and signed police affidavit including a police case number.

APPLY ONLINE, GO IN PERSON

The application process is a hybrid one. It starts with an online application HERE to book an appointment and upload your documents. But you will still have to visit a Home Affairs branch in person to supply your biometrics – facial recognition photos and fingerprints:

• Visit the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) eHome portal.
• Select Apply Online for South African smart ID card.
• Go to Registration.
• Input your Personal Details: Name, ID number, passport number or birth certificate number, date of birth, email address, and cell phone number.
• Upload all necessary documents as prompted.
• Complete an EFT Payment online to Home Affairs. You can also Deposit Money into the Home Affairs account if you don’t have access to online banking. Don’t forget to include the reference number.
• Once payment is confirmed, you’ll be able to select the Department of Home Affairs branch you wish to visit for your appointment. Click HERE to see all the available branches.
• Your smart ID card will be available for collection from Home Affairs within 14 working days from the day of the application.

GREEN MAMBAS TO BE PHASED OUT

All evidence points to Home Affairs wanting to phase out green ID booklets soon. The smart ID card has been available to citizens for over a decade now. And Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Njabulo Nzuza says: “We ultimately want everyone to get the smart ID. It will help the government if everyone has a more secure ID document. And we aim to issue 2.5-million smart ID cards this financial year alone.”

Sooner or later, SASSA beneficiaries without smart ID cards will have to upgrade. Home Affairs’ future vision is similar to that of the South African Revenue Service (SARS). In time, the minister says you’ll only interact with the department digitally on your computer. There will be online applications and home deliveries via couriers and the postal service. Vital documents will only be available in digital format on a client’s secure online profile. Is this just a pipe dream, or is it a realistic goal from the minister …?