South Africa (SA) is set to phase out its long-standing green identity document, with production due to end on March 31, 2027.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced the move during the launch of his department’s Quantum Leap vision programme at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province.
The green identity document will officially cease to be recognised as a valid form of identification from March 31, 2027, giving millions of SA citizens a 12-month period to replace it with the Smart ID card.
The phase-out forms part of government’s broader drive to modernise the country’s identification system and expand access to digital and smart identity services.
Authorities have urged citizens who still use the green ID book to apply for Smart IDs before the deadline to avoid disruptions in accessing services and conducting official transactions.
–SABC–
