President Jacob Zuma. CC image courtesy of the World Economic Forum.
South African president Jacob Zuma has urged citizens to embrace the new smart card IDs, saying the model will transform security systems in the country.
HumanIPO reported last week the new smart ID cards will be released on Nelson Mandela’s birthday (July 18) in an attempt to curb fraud and increase confidence in the country, with the first batch to be issued to prominent citizens, including Desmond Tutu and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
“I call on all citizens to come forward and be smart… the new smart ID cards are indeed very smart,” Zuma said after Home Affairs officials processed his smart card ID application at the presidential residence in Pretoria.
“I’ve just done my own smart ID now and I must thank Home Affairs for this development. We have thought the ID we had after 1994 was the final one but now we are moving to the smart cards, which are [secure] and easy to carry.”
Zuma will receive his smart ID card on 18 July, along with the likes of Tutu, deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe and former president Thabo Mbeki.
It will take between six and eight years for all South Africans to get smart identification document (ID) cards, according to Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor. The cards are to replace the green ID books, and will take five to ten days to produce and deliver.
