The Department of Home Affairs is encouraging residents to apply for their new smart ID cards
As South Africa moves toward phasing out the green barcoded ID book, concerns are mounting among another group of residents who say they remain stuck in administrative limbo: foreign nationals and permanent residents who still rely on green IDs.
The Department of Home Affairs has repeatedly encouraged South Africans to move to Smart ID cards, describing them as more secure and less vulnerable to fraud. However, for years, many naturalised citizens and lawful permanent residents were unable to obtain Smart IDs due to system limitations.
Following recent reporting on the green ID phase-out, readers contacted IOL raising concerns that the issue extends beyond elderly South Africans and citizens living abroad.
One reader noted that there are many legal residents who have the green books but are foreign nationals.
