The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has announced that South African voters participating in next week’s local government elections cannot use their driver’s licence cards for identification purposes.
The DHA warned voters to bring a valid form of ID to the voting booth, accepting only Smart ID cards, green ID books, and valid temporary ID certificates.
The department warned that registered voters must have an acceptable ID to vote. Driver’s licence cards, passports, student cards, and photocopies of ID documents will not be accepted. Only specific valid ID documents are permitted for voting.
Citizens needing to replace a lost or damaged ID document should use Home Affairs offices or over 450 participating bank branches. They are urged to do this before the elections, not waiting until the last minute.
The DHA’s announcement about the election comes amid broader plans to eliminate the use of driver’s licence cards and other traffic-related documents as a form of ID, with the Department of Transport (DoT) planning to amend the National Road Traffic Regulations.
The DoT plans to stop the use of Traffic Register Number (TRN) certificates, and learner’s and driver’s licences as ID documents, which would eliminate the use of driving licences as a secondary form of ID for institutions such as residential estates, banks, and office parks.
According to the DoT, an investigation with Home Affairs revealed widespread misuse of traffic documents such as TRN certificates, and the use of TRNs and driving licences as a general identification document is contrary to the Identification Act, 1997.
The Act states that DHA is solely responsible for the National Population Register and issuing ID documents. Amendments aim to remove legal ambiguity, stop abuse, and align road traffic laws with the Identification Act.
Earlier this month, FlySafair confirmed that it was preparing for possible changes that would eliminate the use of driver’s licences as a form of ID at South African airports, with airlines currently allowing travellers to board domestic flights using a driver’s licence.
Kirby Gordon, FlySafair chief marketing officer, said the company is watching this development closely, as any change to the acceptance of driving licences as identification could have a significant impact on customers, and passengers who normally use them would need to bring another acceptable form of identification.
Under South Africa’s Civil Aviation Regulations 2011, all passengers 18 and older must present valid ID at the boarding gate. The verification process will remain if driving licences are no longer accepted.
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