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Key issues such as crime, water and the economy were all on the agenda for President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address on Thursday, as they should be. But one announcement in particular about life admin caught my attention: a Digital ID for all citizens through the MyMzansi platform.
Because let's face it, we've been on this digital rodeo for a while. The latest upgrade plan is for South Africans to have one platform to access a growing list of everyday services without physically visiting a government office. The goal is fewer queues, less paperwork, and less time lost to bureaucracy - if the rollout goes according to plan.
MyMzanzi, as a digital platform, will allow people to:
- Apply for or access Smart ID and passport services through more bank branches
- Use a Digital ID to access government services securely
- Access digitised driver’s licences and matric certificates
- Fill out police statements online
- Check SASSA grant eligibility remotely, rather than in person
How plausible is this? Home Affairs has made measurable progress over the past few years, particularly through partnerships with banks for Smart ID and passport services, and through the early rollout of digital visa and travel authorisation systems. The Digital ID builds on this existing infrastructure. That said, execution is everything.
The MyMzansi pilot was reportedly built in 10 weeks by the Presidency’s Digital Services Unit using modular, open-source digital public infrastructure already proven abroad. Right now, the launch deck and partner services on the site are marked as "coming soon," with a roadmap detailing a phased approach. Phase one runs until 2027, and full completion is set for 2030.
READ: 5 Home Affairs shake-ups you need to know
The pressure points
The biggest risks aren’t ideological, though - they’re practical:
- System reliability: Platforms like MyMzansi will need to handle huge traffic volumes without crashing.
- Digital exclusion: Not everyone has reliable internet access, smartphones or digital literacy, especially outside major metros.
- Data security: A centralised digital identity system raises obvious concerns about privacy, cybersecurity and data misuse.
- Adoption and Parallel systems: For years, digital tools have existed alongside paper-based ones, rather than replacing them. If this becomes “just another option”, queues won’t disappear.
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Clear timelines, pilot rollouts and visible improvements at Home Affairs offices will matter as much as the tech platform's software and security. Most importantly, they will need to be user-friendly and reliable online, or risk becoming yet another digital promise that looks good on paper but keeps you waiting in line.
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