The long wait for the new, hi-tech ID smart cards is finally over for Grahamstown residents. The roll-out, now in full swing at the Bathust street offices, began in the third week of March.
The long wait for the new, hi-tech ID smart cards is finally over for Grahamstown residents. The roll-out, now in full swing at the Bathust street offices, began in the third week of March.
The Department of Home Affairs' branch manager, Xolile Sibejele, said the department is currently prioritising applicants who are 60 years and above, as well as first time ID applicants (16-year-olds).
"The new ID cards are free for the above-mentioned citizens, but if you don't belong to these age groups, or you already have an ID, then a fee of R 140 will be charged," said Sibejele.
He said applicants are being invited to the Home Affairs' offices in stages, according to their dates of birth, in order to avoid congestion.
The first group of people allowed to apply are those whose birthdays fall during the the first 6 months of the year (January to June).
The smart ID cards were first launched nationally in July last year, to coincide with former President Nelson Mandela's birthday.
Grahamstown Home Affairs had to wait for eight months as it wasn't among the 27 regional offices scheduled to launch the new cards first.
Among the first to get the new ID cards were President Jacob Zuma, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, former president Thabo Mbeki, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
Minister Naledi Pandor's July 4, 2013, Parliamentary statement said it would take six to eight years before all South Africans had smart ID cards.
She urged members of the public to be patient and promised to expand the number of offices able to process applications for the ID smart card.
The Department of Home Affairs is calling upon senior citizens and young South Africans – especially first-time applicants – to apply for their cards.
