Home Affairs denies reports that green ID book will no longer be valid

Home Affairs denies reports that green ID book will no longer be valid

Home Affairs director-general Mkuseli Apleni has urged South Africans to hold on to their green barcoded ID books.

Green ID book
Laila Majiet


This comes after two hoax emails in the past month claimed that the ID book would no longer be valid come March 2018.


Apleni says the emails were clearly meant to cause panic. 


"People have been coming in numbers to our offices to try and be able to meet the deadline. This has a huge consequence to the department because the capacity of our offices cannot handle these numbers."


Apleni says the department first-time applicant are being prioritised in the issuing of smart ID cards. 


"When we were starting this project, we were clear that it is only the first time applicants who must get the smart cards and those above 60 years. 


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"When we looked at our MPR, we saw that is the number that we can handle as a department."


One computer at home affairs can only process 28 smart cards per day. 


"If 200 people go in numbers it means there are bound to go back home without being serviced,"  Apleni says.


South Africans in possession of a valid green ID book must hold on to it. 


"If you are 18 or 19 and already have a green id and up to 59 years old, don't bother. Stay at home don't go to Home Affairs and apply for a smart card," Apleni says. "But if you are 60 and above, you are not pushed for a deadline but we are saying it is open for you to apply." 


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