The Department of Home Affairs will invest in a number of modernisation technologies to create a paperless environment within the department.
One of these is the long-awaited smart ID cards, which will be issued from July, and rollout of which is expected to be completed over the next seven to eight years.
"Modernisation includes live data capture, e-visa and permitting, the Trusted Traveller Programme, the Enhanced Electronic Movement Control System, the National Identification System with biometric features, and the smart ID card," says home affairs minister Naledi Pandor.
In 2012/13, the department allocated R214 million to IT modernisation, while for the 2013/14 year, more than R348 million has been allocated.
The Trusted Traveller Programme is set to be implemented at all ports of entry into the country, and will be piloted at the Maseru border first.
According to head of IT at the department, Sello Mmakau, the programme will aim to reduce the long queues and waiting hours at the border, by using an automated system that works with fingerprints. "There are a lot of Lesotho citizens working in SA that have to go through the border daily and it can be very time-consuming. The electronic system will speed up this process," explains Mmakau.
The department has prioritised the programme and hopes to have it implemented within the next two to three years, but estimated costs are not yet available.
Another modernisation programme that is set to simplify border control is the Enhanced Electronic Movement Control System. Mmakau says this system has already been implemented at 34 points of entry for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, as well as an additional 16 points of entry since. The department aims to have the final 13 implementations done by the end of the financial year. The system streamlines passport control by scanning visitors' passports and electronically verifying all the necessary information.
The National Identification System (NIS) is another modernisation system being implemented and is set to replace the old National Population Register, says Mmakau. "The NIS will be using biometric features to secure the system, which contains personal details of South Africans such as names, ID numbers, addresses, etc," explains Mmakau. "Biometric security is the highest form of security in the world and it will ensure the system is much less likely to be breached."
Mmakau says the department hopes to implement the system within the next 18 months and costs will be finalised by the end of the financial year.
Coming soon
Pandor said last week that once the process of issuing smart ID cards is under way, the department could print approximately three million ID cards a year, using the government printing works.
She continued to say the issuing of the smart cards will begin from 27 home affairs regional offices that have been provided with the capacity for live capture. The department plans to have live capture installed in all its offices within the next three years.
It is hoped the microchip technology in the new cards will cut down on identity fraud. The microchip can be used to secure state pensions, and additional uses are also being considered. The department has said the cards will be "almost impossible to fabricate".
Pandor said the department has made great strides in eliminating duplicate IDs, caused by either theft or registration errors. According to Pandor, there were over 500 000 duplicated IDs in circulation when the campaign began. She now believes there is just over 20 000 in circulation. "We have tried to encourage holders to come forward to resolve duplicates. I intend to invalidate all duplicate IDs in December this year."
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