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The end of the green ID book is finally in sight for South Africa
Green ID books face their final chapter in South Africa
For decades, the green barcoded ID book has been a familiar sight in South African wallets. Slightly worn at the edges, often stamped and restamped, it has quietly carried generations through job applications, bank queues, and voting stations. Now, it is edging closer to retirement.
The Department of Home Affairs says 2025 marked a turning point. More than four million Smart ID cards were issued in a single year, the highest number the department has ever recorded. At 4,002,964 cards delivered, the figure represents a sharp jump from 2024 and signals that the green ID book’s days are numbered.
A record year for Smart IDs
Home Affairs describes the 2025 numbers as a clear acceleration rather than a gentle increase. Issuance was up 17 percent from the previous year and around 1.3 million higher than annual totals seen in 2023 and 2022. In practical terms, this means millions more South Africans now carry a Smart ID card instead of the older booklet.
The department says this momentum is shaping the future of how identity services will work in the country, especially as its Home Affairs at Home programme gathers pace.
Banking halls become Home Affairs hubs
One of the biggest changes behind the scenes is the expansion of Smart ID services into bank branches. Through a growing partnership with the banking sector, Home Affairs plans to make applications available closer to where people live and work.
Over the coming months, services are expected to launch in another 100 bank branches by the end of March 2026. The longer-term plan is even more ambitious, with a target of 1,000 additional branches by 2029. Major banks are already involved, including Capitec and TymeBank, both of which are offering these services for the first time.
For many South Africans, this shift has been welcomed online, with social media users pointing out that bank branches often offer shorter queues and more predictable service than traditional Home Affairs offices.
Why the green ID book is being sidelined
The push away from the green barcoded ID book is not just about convenience. Home Affairs says the older document has become a major security risk. According to the department, green ID books are estimated to be 500 percent more vulnerable to fraud than Smart ID cards.
Officials have previously indicated that production of green ID books could stop as early as 2026, with a full discontinuation planned by 2030. The long view goes even further, with South Africa aiming to introduce a digital ID system in time for the 2029 general elections.
Fixing systems behind the counter
Another factor driving the record numbers is a revamp of the Online Verification Service, which supports identity checks across government systems. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the service had been underfunded for years and misused by some external users.
Last year, verification fees were increased from 15 cents to R10, with a bulk offline option priced at R1. The department says this correction improved system uptime and the performance of the population register, directly helping offices issue more Smart IDs with fewer interruptions.
A legal fight over verification fees
Not everyone is happy with the changes. The Association of Communications and Technology NPC, which represents major telecommunications operators, has launched legal action against Home Affairs over the fee increases. The group argues that the jump, which it calculates at 6,500 percent, will push up costs for network operators, banks and ultimately consumers.
Schreiber has welcomed the court challenge, saying it will allow the department to show how some companies benefited from unsustainably cheap access to personal data in the past. He claims this included the creation of intermediaries who resold information at a profit while the public system struggled.
What this means for South Africans
For ordinary citizens, the message is becoming clearer by the month. The green ID book is no longer the future of identification in South Africa. With Smart IDs rolling out faster, bank access expanding, and digital identity plans on the horizon, the familiar green booklet is heading towards the history books.
Those who still rely on it may soon find fewer reasons, and fewer opportunities, to do so.
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Source: Business Tech
Featured Image: Daily Investor
