Major changes expected for South African smart ID cards in 2025
Here’s why it’s the end of the road for the ‘green mamba’ and adoption of smart ID cards in 2025 is sweeping South Africa …
The thing discouraging South Africans from upgrading to smart ID cards in 2025 are long queues and extensive wait times, reports Business Tech. It’s a huge bugbear for the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) that more residents have not switched to smart ID cards in 2025. As a result, local banks want to double the number of branches that offer smart ID cards in 2025. And the DHA is setting up 227 remote branches.
However, Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber reminds everyone that smart ID cards in 2025 are far safer and that’s why the population should upgrade. The minister has gone on record saying the ‘green mamba’ ID books are now extremely vulnerable to fraud and identity theft. And anyone using the old barcoded ID booklet is at greater risk of having their identity cloned/stolen.
SMART ID CARDS IN 2025
Furthermore, fraud linked to ‘green mamba’ ID booklets is forcing DHA into decisive action. Late in 2024, the department started cancelling IDs held by ‘unauthorised’ persons. The green mambas were launched back in 1980, while the current smart ID cards have been with us since 2013. However, for many, a reluctance to make the switch is because the R140 fee for anyone over the age of 16 is ‘unwarranted’. The feedback received by the DHA is: “They changed the system, so they need to give me the first one for free.” A sentiment certainly echoed by many others in South Africa.
Recent studies have found that smart ID cards in 2025 are less susceptible to physical damage through general wear and tear. Moreover, the cards do no allow criminals to hijack people’s ID numbers and use fake green ID booklets to access SASSA grants, credit, loans, and other financial services. Moreover, Smile ID’s 2024 Digital Identity Fraud in Africa report found that South Africa’s green ID books are the most attacked ID documents on the continent.
- SA ID booklets: 34%
- SA driver’s licences: 14%
- SA smart ID cards: 7%
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES
In line with above, the DHA is forging ahead with yet more technological upgrades to its smart ID cards in 2025, reports Business Tech. Specifically, with the adoption of new biometric technology. Not only will this modernise the issuance process but it will also eliminate human vulnerabilities, explains Minister Schreiber.
This takes the form of facial recognition and fingerprint authentication for all smart ID cards in 2025. ID documents are being manipulated in both the handling and processing phase, and biometrics will put pay to that issue. “Why is it possible for a person to modify or manipulate the documents and process? This vulnerability is due to human discretion, and we need to use technology to remove it, improving the integrity and confidence in smart ID cards in 2025,” explains Dr. Schreiber.
GLOBAL TRENDS
Furthermore, South African smart ID cards in 2025 draw parallels with the banking industry. Modern digital banking requires robust biometric verification for new accounts. Therefore, by implementing these technological advances, DHA will close the gaps criminals can exploit. And the good news is major South African banks are stepping up to facilitate this process. ABSA, FNB, Discovery Bank and Nedbank confirm their plans to expand their eHomeAffairs services. These expansions will double the current number of bank-enabled DHA branches from 30 to more than 60, significantly increasing convenience for citizens.
Moving forward, smart ID cards in 2025 will include a chip storing facility for the holder’s data. This will be laser-engraved to prevent tampering. Moreover, the card’s engrained biometric features will significantly reduce the risk of identity fraud. But there’s still plenty of work to do. According to the Smile ID report, only 26-million smart ID cards have been issued in more than a decade. This is far short of the target of 38 million government set itself.