Holding on to your green barcoded ID book could soon become a serious risk as the government moves towards a complete phase-out of the document. Exorbitant debts, stolen identities, and difficulties registering for higher education have become some of the consequences faced by citizens who have not yet upgraded to the more secure smart ID cards. Home Affairs has stressed the urgency of this transition to protect individuals from identity theft and fraud.
Scammers exploit Green ID Books
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Njabulo Nzuza, highlighted the growing problem of identity theft tied to the outdated green ID books. Speaking to eNCA, he explained, “Citizens have had to endure at the hands of scammers. The duplicate IDs, for instance, resulted from the old, barcoded ID. With the smart card, it’s very difficult for this to happen. That is why we are migrating everyone to a smart card, to phase out the issue of the green barcoded ID, so that we can operate within a secure environment.”
Nzuza also mentioned the efforts made within the department to clean up internal corruption and irregularities in the issuance of permits and IDs. He reassured citizens that the smart ID rollout aims to improve security and efficiency. “We fixed the system. Now, we are saying let us move to digital platforms where your interaction is with a computer and not a human being, at the comfort of your own home,” Nzuza added.
Delayed phase-out of the ID books
Despite these efforts, phasing out the green ID books has faced delays. Initially, the smart ID card rollout, introduced in 2013, was expected to take only two years. However, more than a decade later, Home Affairs has yet to reach its target. Former Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi expressed frustration with the slow progress, telling eNCA, “We want to do away with the green barcode ID. We think it’s long enough that we’ve kept dual identity documents. Very soon, we will make an announcement that the green barcode becomes invalid.”
What does this mean for you?
While green barcoded ID books remain valid for now, South Africans should expect an announcement regarding their expiration soon. Thabo Mokgola, Home Affairs spokesperson, confirmed to The South African that the transition is coming but did not provide a specific date.
Will you be upgrading to the smart ID to secure your identity, or will you wait for further announcements?
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