Naturalised citizens and permanent residents in South Africa can now apply for Smart ID cards
Image: Ayanda Ndamane Independent Newspapers
In a landmark move hailed as a breakthrough for equality and national security, Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber has announced that, for the first time in South Africa's history, naturalised citizens and lawful permanent residents will be able to apply for Smart ID cards.
The applications can be made in person and through the eHomeAffairs online platform.
The Home Affairs department said the change is a result of months of information technology reforms and is expected to benefit over 1.4 million people.
Naturalised citizens are individuals who were not born in South Africa but have legally acquired citizenship after meeting residency and other legal requirements. They are distinct from citizens by birth, and until now, they faced administrative barriers that limited their access to certain official services, including the ability to apply for a Smart ID.
'For years, these South Africans were treated as second-class citizens by being excluded from access to the Smart ID and from eHomeAffairs, which effectively forced them to use only the green bar-coded ID book despite the government's stated intent to eliminate this document due to fraud concerns,' said Schreiber.
Until now, those who became South African citizens by naturalisation, as well as permanent residents, could only obtain the outdated green bar-coded ID book and were locked out of the more secure Smart ID Card system. In rare cases, a Smart ID could be issued, but only through a slow manual process with direct ministerial approval.
The Department's recent digital transformation initiative has now removed these barriers. 'This breakthrough for our digital transformation reforms directly delivers dignity to over 1.4 million people including hundreds of thousands of South African citizens, who had their dignity infringed for years by being treated unequally,' Schreiber said.
He added that the reform also strengthens national security. 'Naturalised citizens and permanent residents were the last remaining groups of people eligible for South African ID documents, who were excluded from obtaining Smart IDs. Thanks to our redress of this long-standing injustice, every eligible person in South Africa is now able to obtain a Smart ID for the first time,' said Schreiber.
To accommodate the anticipated influx of applications, Home Affairs offices will operate extended hours on select Saturdays: 17 May, 24 May, and 31 May from 08:00 to 13:00.
Schreiber concluded: 'Now that all citizens and lawful permanent residents are eligible for the Smart ID, what remains is to geographically expand access to all… It is clear that we are making ever more rapid progress in using digital transformation to deliver Home Affairs @ home.'
THE MERCURY
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
'A great pity': Ramaphosa slams DA's national dialogue withdrawal
President Cyril Ramaphosa said the national dialogue will continue without the input of the Democratic Alliance (DA). He was speaking at a joint media briefing with the President of Austria, Alexander van der Bellen, on Friday, 4 July. Ramaphosa described the DA's decision to withdraw from the national dialogue as 'hypocrisy'. He said it demonstrated a lack of principle. He said South Africans had called for a national conversation about the state of the country after 30 years of democracy. The head of the nation stressed that the dialogue is not a political platform but a collective discussion. Ramaphosa criticised the DA's withdrawal, saying it made no sense and was contradictory. He added that many South Africans were appalled by the party's behaviour. He expressed regret that the DA would deprive the people it represents of the opportunity to contribute to shaping the country's future. The president said the national dialogue will look at the country's governance and economic growth. As well as other aspects such as cultural, sports, and science-related matters. 'And I can name them all so that I can wet their [The DA] appetite. So that their tongues hang out and see that they are going to miss the biggest show in South Africa by defining themselves outside of the national dialogue. What a great pity,' Ramaphosa said. Ramaphosa added that he had anticipated the DA's withdrawal from the Government of National Unity (GNU) before the party pulled out of the national dialogue. This followed its member, Andrew Whitfield's axing from his position as deputy minister of trade and industry. At a media briefing on Friday, 27 June, DA leader John Steenhuisen also accused the African National Congress (ANC) of abusing its power. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news
The Citizen
4 hours ago
- The Citizen
National dialogue: Ramaphosa slams DA ‘hypocrisy', says party will miss out on ‘biggest show in SA'
The president also questioned the DA's decision to remain in the GNU. President Cyril Ramaphosa has strongly criticised the Democratic Alliance (DA), accusing the party of hypocrisy after it pulled out of the much-anticipated national dialogue. The DA's decision followed Ramaphosa's removal of Andrew Whitfield as Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition. The party has opted to remain within the government of national unity (GNU) despite harsh criticism of the president's actions and threats to table a motion of no confidence. Ramaphosa on DA's withdrawal from national dialogue Addressing the matter at a press conference held at the Union Buildings in Pretoria alongside Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, Ramaphosa described the DA's withdrawal from the dialogue as both 'unfortunate' and a 'real shock to me'. He reminded the DA that all participating parties had agreed to the dialogue process when signing the GNU statement of intent. 'Every party signed to that, and it is rather surprising to hear a leader of the Democratic Alliance saying they never agreed to that in the first place.' 'That is the worst form of hypocrisy that I've ever heard,' the president said, in the presence of DA leader John Steenhuisen. ALSO READ: DA threats 'irresponsible': Ramaphosa 'amazed' at Steenhuisen's reaction over Whitfield dismissal Ramaphosa reiterated that the national dialogue was not a 'party political platform', but rather a collective initiative. He confirmed that the dialogue would proceed regardless of the DA's involvement. 'What is wrong with the dialogue? Nothing is wrong with the dialogue. It's about people getting together. 'So what I can say is that the national dialogue will continue without the participation of the Democratic Alliance, and we will probably have a very, very successful dialogue without diversionary inputs or interference from a party that does not have the interests of South Africans at heart.' 'The National Dialogue is a platform for all South Africans to craft a shared vision of the kind of a society we seek to build and agree on the actions we need to take to realise that vision. The dialogue will proceed as planned.' ~President @CyrilRamaphosa #AustriaInSA — The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) July 4, 2025 The president added that by refusing to participate, the DA was going to 'miss the biggest show in South Africa' that would discuss various issues. 'What a great pity,' Ramaphosa remarked. Ramaphosa insists national dialogue will proceed Former president Thabo Mbeki has also criticised the DA's stance in an open letter. Mbeki described the party's actions as both misguided and disrespectful to the South African public, dismissing the DA's claim that the dialogue was merely an ANC election campaign platform. Ramaphosa reacted to Mbeki's sentiments. 'He's also appalled, as many South Africans are appalled at the behaviour of the Democratic Alliance.' READ MORE: 'Bring all to dialogue': Experts insist national dialogue must be people-driven He further questioned the logic behind the DA's continued presence in the GNU while opposing the national dialogue. 'It's the strangest behaviour I've ever seen. And when they met, we thought that they were going to withdraw from the government of national unity. What did they come with? 'They come with saying no, no, no, no; we want to stay in the government of national unity, but we're boycotting the people of South Africa. 'What a contradiction. It makes no sense. So national dialogue will go on,' Ramaphosa concluded. Steenhuisen pushes back Meanwhile, Steenhuisen questioned the timing and setting of Ramaphosa's remarks. 'I don't think that intemperate attacks on a public platform when you have a visiting head of state next to you is the appropriate forum to do that,' he told the media. The DA leader said he intended to discuss with the president his appointment to the inter-ministerial committee (IMC) overseeing the national dialogue. 'I never asked to be on the IMC.' Responding to Mbeki's letter, Steenhuisen claimed the dialogue was 'an inside closed shop deal with the ANC.' 'Clearly, there's been a free flow of information, meetings, discussions around budgets and etc. that have not even taken place with members of the government of national unity. 'The first I found out that there was a R700 million price tag on this thing was when I read it in the media.' Steenhuisen maintained the dialogue was an ANC strategy to rebuild political support ahead of the 2026 local elections. He further contended that the matters set for discussion in the dialogue would not be effectively implemented by ministers linked to corruption scandals. 'A dialogue isn't going to feed anybody. It's not going to build a single house. 'It's not going to create a single other job and nothing we do or say is going to do that unless we get out there and vigorously implement the medium-term development plan, which is the adopted program of government,' Steenhuisen added. NOW READ: 'Hijacked' by the ANC? Maimane issues National Dialogue warning
Eyewitness News
5 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Mashatile on visit to late David Mabuza's family: 'We'll build on what he started'
Alpha Ramushwana 4 July 2025 | 9:24 David Mabuza Paul Mashatile FILE: South Africa's Deputy President David Mabuza speaks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (not in picture) during a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 29 October 2019. Picture: Naohiko Hatta/POOL/AFP JOHANNESBURG - Deputy President Paul Mashatile is visiting the family of his predecessor, David Mabuza, to pay his condolences. The former deputy president died on Thursday after a short illness. Mabuza's family released a statement on Friday morning, saying the former deputy president dedicated his entire life to improving the socio-economic conditions of many South Africans. The late Mabuza's home, located in a quiet suburban neighbourhood, was busy on Friday as family and friends arrived to pay their respects. Meeting with Mabuza's family, Mashatile reflected on Mabuza's life and legacy as a dedicated struggle veteran. READ: Ramaphosa remembers late former Deputy President Mabuza as a leader grounded in activism Mashatile said that when he took over as deputy president, Mabuza ensured a smooth and peaceful transition. 'We will continue to build on what he started. The project in Mpumalanga, too. There was a lot of work he did when he was the deputy president. I think it's important that in whatever we do, there must be a commitment to serve the people. That's how we should honour him.' He said they were inseparable and spent some of his final years discussing ways to revive the African National Congress (ANC).
