The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has set a new record, issuing more than 4 million smart Identity Document (ID) cards in 2025, the highest number in the department’s history.
This milestone marks a 17% increase from the over 3 million smart IDs issued in 2024, which had itself been a record year.
Compared with 2023 and 2022, the 2025 total is about 1.3 million more cards issued, reflecting a steady upward trend in service delivery.
The boost in performance is attributed to technological upgrades and efficiency improvements at both the DHA and the Government Printing Works (GPW), which produces the smart IDs.
A key focus has been repairing and strengthening the department’s Online Verification Service (OVS), previously underfunded and misused by some external users. Fixing these issues has improved system uptime and performance, allowing more South Africans than ever to access smart IDs.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber says the milestone demonstrates the department’s commitment to digital transformation.
“Thanks to the ongoing digital transformation of Home Affairs, over four million more people gained the ability to securely open bank accounts, access employment, and obtain social grants in 2025.”
The accelerated rollout of smart IDs aligns with the department’s Medium-Term Development Plan. According to DHA, the green bar-coded ID book is estimated to be 500% more vulnerable to fraud than the smart ID, underlining the importance of the transition.
