South Africa block IDs of citizens, issue deadline to defend am, cite identity fraud by some nationals and migrants

South Africa Home Affairs say dem don block di identity documents of some citizens, and say make dem go present demsefs to officials.

Dem say dem don begin investigate di validity of some identity documents wey make dem block di IDs.

South Africa say if dose wey dey affected by di blocked IDs no take action, e fit lead to "possible permanent cancellation".

According to di notice by di Home Affairs, dem wan find out through dia investigation if di pipo wey dem block dia IDs na di true owner of di documents.

Dem say dem also wan find out di legal status of di holders of di affected IDs and if truly e belong to di pesin wey im identity dey show for di documents.

Di reason for di blocked IDs, according to di Home Affairs na say dem suspect say some nationals and migrants dey use am do identity fraud.

"Di Department of Home Affairs notify di public of dia intention to investigate weda any identity number, document, card against which dem place marker bifor November 2022, and wey dey blocked to date, correctly show di particulars of di pesin wey di identity number, document, card dey assigned."

South Africa get di green ID book wey dem dey use register eligible naturalised citizens and permanent residents, including oda identity register to document migrant wey dey eligible to live for dia kontri.

However, di Department of Home Affairs under Minister Leon Schreiber announce say dem go roll out Smart ID cards for naturalised South African citizens and permanent residents .

Also, President Cyril Ramaphosa during im nation address say di green ID book go come to an end as part of measures to cut illegal immigration for South Africa.

"We go establish population register wit digital registration. We go discontinue di green ID book register, wey pipo dey use do identity tiff-tiff," Ramaphosa tok.

Ramaphosa kon add say di Home Affairs go increase inspections to target employers wey dey give work to illegal migrants, and also announce date wey di green ID book go end.

Now, di Home Affairs don begin target pipo especially migrants wey get fake IDs and dose wey dey involved in identity theft.

According to Home Affairs, anyone wit South Africa green ID book or smart cards go dey verified and permanent resident permit holders go verify all dia documents.

Why Home Affairs block di IDs

Now, di Department of Home Affairs come out to say dem block some IDs witout notice to di holders.

Dia claim be say some of dose IDs belong to illegal migrants.

"Di identity documents and cards in question dey blocked under Section 19 of di Identification Act (Act No. 68 of 1997), witout due notice.

"Dis cases include, but no dey limited to, records classified as duplicates, illegal immigrants, and citizens of Namibia, formerly South West Africa."

Di department explain say dem fit unblock di affected pesin IDs but if dem find more wahal, dem go cancel di documents.

Dem say dem go cancel di documents if dem find say e belong to "individuals wey no dey qualified for inclusion for di National Population Register".

Dem add say dem go cancel ID documents of pesin wit incorrect personal particulars.

"Di department fit cancel dis documents if dem find say di documents dey obtained through fraud, false statements or incorrect information."

According to di Home Affairs, dem fit cancel di documents if dem also find say na forged or stolen IDs.

'We go cancel your identity number'

Department of Home Affairs say dia action dey backed by Section 3 of di Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000 (Act No. 3 of 2000), wey go allow dem "give fair administrative action for all affected pesin".

Dem say anyone wey dia IDs dey blocked gatz show for dia office in pesin to explain why e dey blocked and why di Home Affairs no suppose cancel am.

"All affected pesins dey invited to visit any Home Affairs front office in pesin to provide di Department wit written and oral representations explaining why dem no suppose block dia identity numbers, documents, cards wey correctly show dia particulars as di pesin wey dia identity numbers, documents, cards dey assigned."

Di Home Affairs kon set deadline for di affected pesin to appear for dia office, if not, dem go cancel di document witout notice.

And if di documents dey cancelled, e mean say di pesin no get di legal right and status to leave for South Africa.

"You get until 10 July 2026 to submit your representations in pesin for any Department of Home Affairs office, togeda wit all relevant supporting documentation."

Dis action by di Home Affairs na part of dia measures to cut down on illegal migrants and also to ensure say pipo wey dey live for dia kontri get di legal status.