The relationship in South Africa between sensible ID playing cards and SASSA grants is beneath the Department of Home Affairs’ microscope. It stated in a parliamentary portfolio committee this week (Tuesday 29 October 2024) that South African Social Security Agency beneficiaries with ID playing cards and SASSA grants are safer than these with solely the ‘green mamba’ ID booklet.

Furthermore, the deputy minister of Home Affairs Njabulo Nzuza believes that wholesale adoption of sensible ID playing cards will go a protracted solution to preventing SASSA grant fraud going ahead. The division’s purpose is to make the method Home Affairs course of totally paperless – very similar to SARS – wherein it operates like a ‘digital office’.

ID CARDS AND SASSA GRANTS

The committee underlined the endemic state of fraudulent exercise on the company, too. This begins with illegal attainment of South African residency and/or citizenship. From there, as a result of shut relationship between Home Affairs and SASSA databases, entry to taxpayer cash by social welfare isn’t not possible to safe.

“Because corruption is such an ever-changing and advancing phenomenon, the Department has strengthened its counter-corruption programme. Criminals never rest, and neither should we. And that’s why the issue of smart ID cards and SASSA grants needs to be addressed. Full digitisation and a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and corruption is the only way forward,” stated the division.

UPGRADE TO A SMART ID CARD

This sentiment was reiterated just lately by Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber. He is pushing for Home Affairs to maneuver away from a paper-based system totally to make sure each citizen is ‘digitised on their database’ with a wise ID card. There have been billions lost in fraudulent SASSA payments over time. And he’s hoping the way forward for ID playing cards and SASSA grants can be safeguarded by this course of.

Specifically, Home Affairs says, ‘green mamba’ ID booklets are going to be phased out in South Africa quickly. Although it declined to decide to a deadline. However, some SASSA SRD beneficiaries in 2024 say they’re falling foul of newly instated biometric verification for grants. This requires a digital picture of the beneficiary be uploaded to Home Affairs for facial recognition. Moreover, some SRD recipients don’t have access to a smartphone and the internet, subsequently they’re successfully barred from the system for not having a wise ID card.

MILLIONS OF PAPER RECORDS

Nevertheless, the way forward for ID playing cards and SASSA grants is daunting, explains Nzuza. Building a ‘digital Home Affairs’ means eliminating tens of millions of paper information. A inexperienced ID booklet stays harmful as a result of criminals can simply counterfeit paper paperwork with barcode readers. “We have to eliminate the green barcoded ID immediately. We are working on smoothing the way for ID cards and SASSA grants,” says Nzuza.

Currently, the applying course of to get a wise ID card is a hybrid one. It begins with a web-based utility HERE to e-book an appointment. But you continue to have to go to a Home Affairs department in individual to produce your biometrics – facial recognition images and fingerprints.

WHAT TO DO

• Visit the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) eHome.
• Select Apply Online for South African sensible ID card.
• Go to Registration.
• Input your private particulars: Name, ID quantity, passport quantity or delivery certificates quantity, date of delivery, e-mail tackle, and cellphone quantity.
• Upload all the required paperwork requested.
• Make an EFT Payment on-line to Home Affairs. You may also Deposit Money into the Home Affairs account when you don’t have entry to on-line banking. Don’t overlook to incorporate the reference quantity.
• After cost, choose the Department of Home Affairs department you want to go to in your appointment. Click HERE to see all of the out there branches.
• Your sensible ID card can be out there for assortment from Home Affairs inside 14 working days from the day of the applying.

The sensible ID card has been out there 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.”

HAVE YOU EVER HAD YOUR SASSA GRANT STOLEN?

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