With millions of South Africans still using green barcoded identity books, the Department of Home Affairs is encouraging citizens to switch to Smart ID cards as the country moves towards a fully digital identity system.
The department plans to phase out the green ID book by 2028 as part of efforts to strengthen identity security, combat fraud and modernise the National Population Register.
Nearly 15 million people still rely on the paper-based document, which has been part of South Africa’s history since before democracy and was used by millions during the 1994 elections.
Home Affairs has partnered with Capitec, Standard Bank, FNB, Absa and Nedbank to make Smart ID applications more accessible through participating bank branches. More than 574,371 applications had been processed through these branches by August 2026.
The Smart ID card contains a secure digital chip and biometric information designed to improve identity verification and protect citizens against identity theft.
As the country prepares for the local government elections on 4 November 2026, citizens are encouraged to collect their Smart ID cards once available to help avoid last-minute challenges.
While the green ID book remains an important symbol of South Africa’s democratic journey, th
No tags for this post.
