Minister in the Presidency, Collins Chabane, on behalf of Cabinet, today Friday 4 May 2012 commended the launch of the Smart ID Card pilot led by Home Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. Minister Chabane was briefing media at the Union Buildings following the Cabinet meeting held on Thursday 3 May 2012.
In this regard, Minister Chabane said, “Cabinet commended the Minister of Home Affairs Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on the pilot implementation of a smart ID Card. The green bar coded identity book will be replaced with a Smart ID card in a phased in approach. A Smart ID Card with a contactless chip, based on international trends and standards, is the most viable solution and will meet the medium to long term vision of the Department of Home Affairs and the security needs of South Africa. The pilot project will enable the department to test its hardware and software capability to produce the card as well as the participation of other government departments and agencies.”
The smart ID card pilot was announced by Minister Dlamini Zuma during her Budget Speech in Parliament last month, and comes within the context of national efforts to consolidate the restoration of our peoples identity, citizenship and indeed their dignity which was denied for centuries by successive racist regimes.
Further pronouncement on the matter of the costs related to the Smart ID Card, will be made in due course. However Minister Dlamini Zuma has determined that the first issue of the smart card will be free while any other re-issue will have a cost implication for the applicant.
Smart ID Card, watch it, it is coming.
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