The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) says its draft roll-out plan for the smart ID cards is expected to be approved soon and the department will start issuing the smart cards from July.

“We are currently consulting with key stakeholders and the minister will approve afterwards,” said head of IT at the department, Sello Mmakau. Home Affairs minister Naledi Pandor" rel=tag>Naledi Pandor has committed to providing every South African with a smart ID card within the next five to seven years, said Mmakau.

Once the process of issuing smart ID cards is under way, the department could print about three million ID cards a year, using the Government Printing Works. Altech Card Solutions and Gemalto Southern Africa were announced as the successful bidders to produce material and software for the production of smart ID cards.

It is hoped the microchip technology in the new cards will cut down on identity fraud. The microchip can be used to secure state pensions, and additional uses are also being considered. The department has said the cards will be “almost impossible to fabricate”.

According to Mmakau, the draft roll-out plan will prioritise pensioners, Cabinet ministers and members of Parliament. “We are starting [the roll-out] from 27 offices – three offices per province – across the country,” he said.

Mmakau added the department has two options for roll-out, either alphabetically or by month of birth.