Mass roll out of the smart ID cards in South Africa officially stated in the weekend last. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA)is still inviting first-time applicants and pensioners to apply at 28 offices across SA.

As preciously stated, the deployment for senior citizens will go according to the birth month, with the DHA set to cater for those born in January and February first.

Naledi Pandor, the home affairs minister, 100 000 smart ID cards are expected to be issued by the end of March and applicants can expect a paperless process using biometric technology to record card details.

“The rollout of the smart ID cards to all eligible South Africans will take a few years and the department, accordingly, makes an appeal for the public to exercise patience,” said the minister

Green ID books – which Pandor said have “been open to fraud and abuse” – will be phased out as more citizens are invited to apply for the new cards in the coming months.

The following offices have been earmarked for the roll-out process:

• Gauteng: Soweto; Akasia and Byron Place, in Pretoria; Harrison Street in Johannesburg
• Limpopo: Jane Furse, Polokwane and Tzaneen
• North West: Potchefstroom, Rustenburg and Klerksdorp
• Mpumalanga: Nelspruit, Middleburg and Emalahleni
• Free State: Bloemfontein, Kroonstad and Welkom
• Northern Cape: Kimberley, Kuruman and Upington
• KwaZulu-Natal: Mtubatuba, Durban-commercial and Pietermaritzburg
• Eastern Cape: Port Elizabeth, Mthatha and King William’s Town
• Western Cape: Wynberg, George and Barrack Street

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