Pretoria - Over 80 000 smart ID cards have been processed since October last year, Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor revealed on Friday.
“We are happy to report that since October last year, to date, we’ve processed over 80 000 smart ID cards. In this regard, we are on course to meeting our target of issuing 100 000 smart ID cards by the end of the financial year, March 31, 2014,” Minister Pandor told reporters.
She said they have also increased the number of their offices earmarked for processing of applications from 28 to 30 across the country, adding that by April, she hoped they would have 70 offices ready nationally for this purpose.
Minister Pandor also invited the elderly, 60-year-olds and above, born in the month of March, to start applying for their smart ID cards.
The minister further expressed concern that those who have applied for the smart ID cards were not coming back to collect their ID cards.
“We are advising all citizens who have applied for the new smart ID cards to visit offices of application to collect them,” she said.
She said currently, there is a total of 16 541 uncollected ID cards at the department offices and of these 2 062 have not provided the department with contact details.
“We wish to inform the public that it takes 10 days only to process a smart ID card application.
“Citizens are urged to respond positively to sms messages from the department urging them to collect their smart ID cards,” she said.
2014 General Elections
Minister Pandor said the current green bar-coded IDs, smart ID cards and temporary Identity Certificates will be accepted by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) as legal forms of identity on Election Day scheduled for May 7.
The minister expressed her hope that there would be a massive voter turn-out at the upcoming General Elections, which will also be marking South Africa’s 20 years of freedom and democracy.
“We call on all people to participate in the forthcoming national elections to choose a government of their choice and as part of efforts aimed at the consolidation and strengthening of the gains we’ve made during the 20 years of peace, freedom and democracy,” she said. - SAnews.gov.za
