Smart ID cards will replace green, bar coded identity books in South Africa, minister of home affairs Naledi Pandor has announced.
“We will begin with the issuing of the cards to new applicants and those who need re-issuing of identity documents from July this year,” Times Live quoted Pandor as saying.
Pandor added: “The smart card is part of the national effort to consolidate the restoration, common citizenship and identity and dignity to our people.”
Altech Card Solutions – a South African company was awarded the ZAR40 million (US$4.1 million) tender to equip Government Printing Works (GPW) with an automated mailing system and machines for card personalisation, which will be manufactured by the US company DataCard.
Gemalto Southern Africa was awarded the ZAR199 million (US$20.7 million) tender to supply government with pre-printed polycarbonate cards, complete with a contactless microchip.
“Through a rigorous tender process, GPW identified two world-class suppliers, each with extensive experience in their field…” said Pandor.
The current green ID books will still be present in the country for some time after the implementation of the cards as Pandor said the phasing out of the ID books may take up to seven years.
Mkuseli Apleni, director general of the Department of Home Affairs said: “This is a security-tight process… Hard luck to those with fraudulent documents.
