Elderly residents face Home Affairs fingerprint hurdles

For some elderly South Africans, getting through a routine Home Affairs verification process is becoming an exhausting experience, particularly when fingerprint scanners fail to recognise their biometrics.

The South African reported that readers have raised concerns about repeated difficulties completing biometric verification, with some elderly residents being required to return to Home Affairs after unsuccessful fingerprint scans.

For people who are already frail or struggle to travel, another trip to a government office can be far more than a minor inconvenience.

Why are elderly fingerprints difficult to capture?

Not every fingerprint failure means the same thing.

A scanner can experience a temporary “failure to capture”, which may be caused by issues such as damp skin or a dirty sensor. A “failure to enrol” is different because the fingerprint itself may be too worn or shallow for the system to create a usable biometric record.

Ageing and decades of manual work can affect the condition of fingerprints, making them more difficult for biometric equipment to read.

This means repeatedly trying different fingerprint stations may not necessarily solve the problem.

What happens when fingerprints fail?

When fingerprints cannot be successfully captured, residents may need to undergo Home Affairs National Identification System (HANIS) verification.

HANIS is used to verify a person’s identity by checking fingerprints, photographs and biographical information against the National Population Register.

The verification process is also used by institutions such as banks and SASSA to confirm identities.

Residents who have already experienced unsuccessful fingerprint scans can tell officials about the problem and ask whether facial verification is available instead of repeatedly attempting a fingerprint scan that may continue to fail.

Housebound elderly residents face another challenge

The situation becomes even more complicated for people who are unable to leave their homes.

According to the report, Home Affairs does not have a dedicated home-visit policy specifically for housebound or bedridden residents. Instead, mobile assistance is available through the department’s mobile units.

The department reportedly has 220 mobile units nationwide, and families can approach their local Home Affairs branch or ward councillor to request assistance for a severely frail relative.

However, the biometric process still has to be completed in person.

A family member cannot simply complete the process on behalf of an elderly resident. An official must physically travel to the person and capture their biometrics using the required equipment.

When a Home Affairs trip comes at a cost

For elderly South Africans who depend on their pensions, travelling to Home Affairs can involve both time and money.

The report highlighted a case in Komani in the Eastern Cape, where elderly residents reportedly travelled for hours using their SASSA pension money, only to be turned away after a mobile unit broke down.

The incident shows how a service problem can have consequences beyond the Home Affairs office itself, particularly for residents who may already face difficulties with transport and mobility.

What can residents do?

For anyone heading to Home Affairs or a participating bank for verification, the report recommends taking a few practical steps.

Residents should:

• Bring their ID book or smart ID card.
• Tell officials if they have previously experienced failed fingerprint scans.
• Ask about facial verification if fingerprints repeatedly cannot be captured.
• Consider avoiding particularly busy periods, with early mornings and month-end reportedly among the busiest times.

For elderly residents who are housebound or bedridden, their families can approach a local Home Affairs office or ward councillor to ask about mobile assistance.

Green ID book deadline adds urgency

The difficulties come as South Africa continues moving away from the old green ID book.

According to the report, the existing green ID booklets are due to be phased out by 2028, meaning more residents may need to engage with Home Affairs as the deadline approaches.

For elderly people whose fingerprints are difficult for biometric machines to capture, access to alternative verification methods and mobile services could therefore become increasingly important.

For now, the challenge is not simply getting to Home Affairs. For some elderly residents, it is getting through a system that may struggle to recognise their fingerprints in the first place.

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Source: The South African