8 April 2009
The Department of Home Affairs will from today start producing the new South
African passport with improved security features. The Minister of Home Affairs,
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Deputy Minister for Arts and Culture, Mantombazana
Botha, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba, today officially opened
the printing facility in Pretoria which houses the new passport machine.
The new South African passport, introduced as part of the department's
turnaround programme, is aimed at improving customer service and stamping out
forgery of the passport. The introduction of the new process improves the
integrity and security of the passport, bringing it in line with the
International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) standards for technology and
security.
To further improve security in the passport production process the recently
introduced online fingerprint verification system will be used to confirm the
identity of the applicant. This is done to positively verify the identity of
the applicant as well as to minimise risks of identity fraud. Persons who need
to apply for a passport are therefore required to visit their local Home
Affairs office or foreign mission in person.
Applicants are now required to submit high-resolution colour photographs
upon application. Photograph specifications are available from all Home Affairs
offices and on the website. The new passport contains several high security
features that are tamper-proof, making it impossible to forge. The passport
holderâs biographical data is laser-engraved on a polycarbonate page and the
paper used for the other pages of the passport includes a watermark of Chief
Albert Luthuli. Fine line security background designs depicting the Big Five
are printed on the pages.
The previous South African Passport remains valid until its expiry date or
it runs out of pages. After applying, clients can check the status of their
applications by SMS (send the word "P" followed by ID number to 32551); log
onto the department's website: http://www.dha.gov.za or by calling the Call Centre
on 0800 60 1190.
For more information please contact:
Siobhan McCarthy
Chief Director: Communications Services
Tel: 012 810 7338
Cell: 082 886 6708
E-mail: Siobhan.mccarthy@dha.gov.za
Joseph Mohajane
Media Relations
Contact: 012 810 6315
Cell: 082 909 3543
E-mail: joseph.mohajane@dha.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Home Affairs
8 April 2009
Source: Department of Home Affairs (http://www.dha.gov.za)
