South Africa is preparing to take a major step in modernising its national identification system, with the Department of Home Affairs indicating that the long-running green bar-coded ID book could soon stop being produced.
The announcement follows renewed government efforts to strengthen identity verification, improve population registration systems, and combat identity fraud linked to outdated documentation.
According to Home Affairs Deputy Director-General Thulani Mavuso, the department believes it may be ready to halt production of the green ID book before the end of 2026, marking the beginning of the final transition toward smart ID cards and future digital identity services.
While no official cut-off date has yet been announced, authorities have confirmed that the process will be implemented in phases, including the eventual declaration that green ID books are no longer valid forms of identification.
Government prepares for full smart ID transition
Speaking during a recent television interview, Mavuso explained that government had previously delayed the discontinuation of green ID books because millions of South Africans still lacked access to smart ID cards.
Officials feared that eliminating the older document too early would leave many citizens without practical identification options.
The Department of Home Affairs has spent several years expanding smart ID card services through partnerships with commercial banks, allowing citizens to apply for and collect documents outside traditional Home Affairs offices.
Initially, authorities attempted to cancel green ID books when citizens collected smart ID cards. However, many people chose to retain their old documents, often claiming they had been lost. As a result, South Africa effectively continued operating two parallel identification systems.
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently confirmed that government would soon announce a formal roadmap for phasing out green ID books. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to improve border management, strengthen population registration, and address concerns around identity-related crime.
The President also highlighted plans to build a comprehensive biometric population register that could ultimately support a national digital ID system.
Fraud concerns drive urgency for change
Security experts have long warned that the green ID book presents significant vulnerabilities within South Africa’s identification framework.
Identity verification company VerifyNow recently described the document as one of the country’s largest identity fraud risks, noting that millions of citizens continue to rely on a system that lacks biometric security features.
Unlike smart ID cards, green ID books can be more easily altered, duplicated, or forged, creating opportunities for criminal syndicates and identity theft networks.
The challenge has become increasingly serious with the rise of artificial intelligence technologies. According to VerifyNow, AI-powered fraud schemes have expanded rapidly since 2025, with many attacks specifically targeting weaknesses in older identification systems.
The company warned that generative AI tools have dramatically lowered the cost and technical barriers associated with sophisticated identity fraud operations. Combined with global data breaches and growing digital service adoption, these developments have created an environment where identity-related crimes are becoming increasingly difficult to detect.
Despite the transition plans, green ID books remain widely used across South Africa. Government estimates suggest that approximately 16 million citizens were still using the document by the end of 2025.
To support migration to smart IDs, Home Affairs plans to continue expanding service availability through banking partnerships. While official targets previously aimed for 200 participating bank branches by the end of the 2026/27 financial year, officials now hope to extend services to roughly 750 branches nationwide by the end of 2026.
The expansion is expected to make smart ID applications more accessible and help accelerate the retirement of one of South Africa’s oldest identification systems.
Source: Newzroom Afrika, Department of Home Affairs, Presidency of South Africa, VerifyNow