‘Long way to go’: Home Affairs clarifies green ID book confusion
The Department of Home Affairs – whose new minister is Leon Schreiber – has set the record straight on the social media confusion around green ID books.
The new smart ID card system was rolled out in 2013, and more than 25 million have since been issued to citizens. More than 13 million South Africans are required to upgrade to the new system.
GREEN ID BOOK – DEPARTMENT SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT
In recent weeks, reports have emerged that the Department of Home Affairs will discontinue using green ID books in place of smart ID cards.
This has left millions of South African citizens – who still use the old system – annoyed and confused about having to upgrade.
Speaking to 702, Department of Home Affairs DDG Thulani Mavuso claimed that green ID books would still be used until the goal of issuing 38 million smart cards had been reached.
“The green ID books remains valid and continues to be a legal document until we have made that determination. Our expectation is that in the next two years we will be done away with it.
“It’s still a long way to go”.
WHY SHOULD YOU UPGRADE?
Many South Africans have expressed their annoyance in having to swap their old green ID books for
However, Mavuso cautions that citizens who continue to use the old system do so at their own security risk.
He said: “The green ID books are vulnerable to identity theft and fraud. The smart card is a safer option. With biometric identification, you have to authenticate your identity”.
When will green ID books expire? The Department of Home Affairs has set the record straight. Image via Expatsontheglobe
Mavuso added that for those who wish to hold on to their ID books, Home Affairs could place a “cancelled” stamp on the book after an upgrade, which you are then free to hold onto as a keepsake.
WHO IS THE NEW MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS?
In his first official tweet, Leon Schreiber posted: “It is my honour to be appointed as Minister of Home Affairs”.
“I pledge to serve you to the best of my abilities and in a spirit of collaboration to demonstrate that South Africans can fix even the most intractable problems when we work together”.
Schreiber is 36 years old and has a bachelor’s degree in International Studies. He also has a PhD in political science.
He matriculated in 2006 from the Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch, a school well known for producing Springbok players.
Schreiber is a published author, and wrote Coalition Country: South Africa After the ANC, which in 2018.