SASSA beneficiaries with out sensible ID playing cards are leaving themselves weak to fraud and identification theft, says Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber. Since taking on after the May 2024 elections, the brand new minister has been on a mission to fully reform the Department of Home Affairs, studies Daily Investor.

Key to his success is shifting Home Affairs away from its archaic paper-based system and making certain that each citizen is ‘digitised on their database’ with a brand new sensible ID card. Now, following a spate of alleged data breaches and millions lost in fraudulent payments, he’s hoping SASSA beneficiaries with out sensible ID playing cards will heed the decision to improve as soon as and for all from the ‘green mamba’ ID booklet.

SASSA BENEFICIARIES WITHOUT SMART ID CARDS

By not upgrading to sensible ID playing cards, SASSA recipients face significant risks in safeguarding their monthly grants, warns the division. Specifically, Home Affairs has seen elevated issues with inexperienced ID booklets – and has needed to improve prosecution of criminals engaged in identification theft and fraud. As a consequence, the division says it’s beginning to take steps to section the ID booklet out in South Africa fully.

Every day SASSA beneficiaries with out sensible ID playing cards have been impacted within the following methods because of this elevated policing. A controversial South African Social Security Agency biometric verification process for grant recipients requires a digital picture of the beneficiary on the Home Affairs database for facial recognition. If you don’t have one uploaded, you’re extra prone to be kicked out of the system.

SASSA GRANTS BEING REFERRED

As The South African reported just lately, the CEO of SASSA revealed to parliament simply how unhealthy underspending for social grants has change into over the past 12 months. R1.5 million in social grants has been paid to SASSA and Postbank workers illegally. More stringent means testing and facial-recognition verification noticed a R1.5-billion underspend on social welfare. The largest parts had been for Child Support Grants (R792 million) and SRD grants (R591 million).

For SASSA beneficiaries with out sensible ID playing cards, your finest plan of motion to not threat shedding your grant is to leap on-line and apply for a brand new ID card instantly. The value is barely R140 (it’s at no cost if you happen to’re underneath the age of 16). At the appointment you’ll have to produce your outdated inexperienced ID booklet to be destroyed. And a sound driver’s licence/passport as a type of identification. Here’s all the pieces else it’s good to know concerning the course of …

UPGRADE TO A SMART ID CARD URGENTLY

• Don’t neglect your proof of tackle (a utility invoice together with your title and tackle clearly acknowledged on it that’s not older than three months).
• If you’re born elsewhere, you will need to produce a sound everlasting resident certificates.
• If you’re foreign-born, a government-issue overseas identification card or passport originating out of your nation of your beginning could also be used as legitimate identification.
• ID or journey paperwork from the outdated Transkei, Bophutatswana, Venda or Ciskei homelands can be accepted.
• If you’re a first-time applicant (though not strictly related right here) carry alongside a beginning certificates.
• In the occasion of deceased dad and mom, provide the demise certificates all deceased dad and mom.
• In the occasion of a misplaced/stolen ID doc, you want a sworn and signed police affidavit together with a police case quantity.

APPLY ONLINE, GO IN PERSON

The utility course of is a hybrid one. It begins with an internet utility HERE to ebook an appointment and add your paperwork. But you’ll nonetheless have to go to a Home Affairs department in individual to provide your biometrics – facial recognition images and fingerprints:

• Visit the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) eHome portal.
• Select Apply Online for South African sensible ID card.
• Go to Registration.
• Input your Personal Details: Name, ID quantity, passport quantity or beginning certificates quantity, date of beginning, e-mail tackle, and cellphone quantity.
• Upload all needed paperwork as prompted.
• Complete an EFT Payment on-line to Home Affairs. You may Deposit Money into the Home Affairs account if you happen to don’t have entry to on-line banking. Don’t neglect to incorporate the reference quantity.
• Once cost is confirmed, you’ll be capable to choose the Department of Home Affairs department you want to go to to your appointment. Click HERE to see all of the accessible branches.
• Your sensible ID card can be accessible for assortment from Home Affairs inside 14 working days from the day of the appliance.

GREEN MAMBAS TO BE PHASED OUT

All proof factors to Home Affairs eager to section out inexperienced ID booklets quickly. The sensible ID card has been accessible to residents for over a decade now. And Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Njabulo Nzuza says: “We ultimately want everyone to get the smart ID. It will help the government if everyone has a more secure ID document. And we aim to issue 2.5-million smart ID cards this financial year alone.”

Sooner or later, SASSA beneficiaries with out sensible ID playing cards must improve. Home Affairs’ future imaginative and prescient is much like that of the South African Revenue Service (SARS). In time, the minister says you’ll solely work together with the division digitally in your pc. There can be on-line purposes and residential deliveries by way of couriers and the postal service. Vital paperwork will solely be accessible in digital format on a shopper’s safe on-line profile. Is this only a pipe dream, or is it a sensible purpose from the minister …?

ARE YOU A SASSA RECIPIENT WITHOUT A SMART ID CARD?

If so, tell us about your experiences by clicking on the remark tab beneath or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com. Or WhatsApp your ideas on this text to 060 011 0211. Don’t neglect to comply with The South African for the most recent updates.