South Africa expands smart ID card pilot
07 May, 2012
category: Government
The South African Ministry of Home Affairs announced the expansion of its smart ID card pilot program, reports IT Web.
According to Home Affairs director-general Mkuseli Apleni, the smart ID card program is part of an effort by the national government to shed its racist past and create one identification card for all citizens. It will replace the current civic and immigration identity systems and capture demographic and biometric data of all South Africans and foreign nationals.
The pilot program, which Home Affairs demonstrated to the Cabinet last week, will help the ministry test its systems and prepare the amount of machinery necessary for full-scale production. The Government Printing Works will be responsible for producing the cards in-house. The smart ID card system will also link to other governmental systems for movement control, permitting, asylum seeker and refugee management.
The government plans to issue the first card free of charge, but replacement cards will have a fee attached.
The pilot will run through this year, with hopes for full implementation rolling out next year.
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