Despite having all the same constitutionally enshrined rights, naturalised South African citizens have been discriminated against for decades. If you’re born in South Africa, you probably don’t know that naturalised South African citizens don’t have the right to apply for a smart ID card or use Home Affairs’ eHome online portal.
It’s true. Although not expressively stated in any rule of law, naturalised South African citizens have suffered the indignity of discrimination for years. We didn’t appreciate the full extent of the problem either, until our The South African WhatsApp number blew up recently with messages from naturalised South African citizens. They only have access to the green mamba ID booklet and nothing else. But all that is about to change next year (2025), reports Business Tech.
NATURALISED SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENS
In his first 100 days of office under the Government of National Unity (GNU), Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has put the department on a path of digital modernisation. Accordingly, the minister’s plan is to fully digitise the Home Affair’s experience (like SARS has for tax). And this includes allowing naturalised South African citizens access to all the same benefits, like smart IDs and online convenience. Both are, quite rightly, seen as major stumbling blocks in the department’s plans to move on from antiquated paper-based systems.
We’ve had tens of naturalised South African citizens contact us, to explain the difficulty of their plight. If they lose or have their ID booklet stolen or damaged, they can only visit a handful of outdated Home Affairs offices that still support the issuing of the old ‘green mamba’. However, since December 2023, the DHA has run a pilot programme to allow naturalised South African citizens access to smart IDs. Smart ID cards have been around since 2013. And green ID booklets were meant to be phased out between 2018 – 2022. It’s understood that only one-third of the total population (roughly 21 million) have been issued smart IDs cards since their inception.
PHASED IN FOR 2025
According to parliamentary Q&A responses, Minister Schreiber is gradually phasing in the system for naturalised citizens next year. So far, it’s understood that 700 applicants have been invited to participate. However, the second phase of smart ID rollout will take place in earnest in 2025 for naturalised South African citizens.
Minister Schreiber responded to questions in parliament recently by saying: “The Department is using a phased approach (for smart ID cards). The second phase will focus on naturalised citizens, followed by permanent residence permit holders. They will be eligible to apply for smart ID cards once we have proven system stability and capability to verify such applications.”
WILL YOU UPGRADE TO A SMART ID CARD OR STICK WITH THE GREEN MAMBA?
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