Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-08-03

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Fatima Chohan handed out the new smart ID cards to the elderly of the Nirvana Old Age Home in Lenasia, south of Johannesburg on Saturday.

The smart ID card is the size of a credit card and will replace outdated and obsolete systems.

It uses modern biometric technology to record details on a chip on the card. The memory is sufficient to store a wide range of public sector details…like your marriage licence details, drivers licence details…

The smart ID card will allow citizens to have a modern identification card than the outdated book that is easy to forge and easy to interfere with.

“We are very happy when we engage with the elderly at home affairs. This is part of a broader initiative to ensure our elderly have smart ID cards,” said Chohan.

Two of the recipients of the smart ID cards at the Nirvana Old Age Home were 93-year-old Naran Vallabh and 93-year-old Mary Naicker who also happened to be the oldest residents of the Old Age Home.

“We using technology to benefit our people” added Chohan

The elderly of Nirvana Old Age Home also received food parcels and blankets from a Turkish delegation that accompanied the Deputy Minister.

So how much will the new smart card cost?

“First issue is free (ie. To persons who have not had ID’s before – Usually 16-year olds) and also free to pensioners. The cost for the rest is R 140,” Chohan told Radio Islam.

(Twitter: @Faizie143)