With just eight days until South Africa heads to the polls for Local Government Elections, Home Affairs has issued an urgent call for voters to collect their identity documents.

Voters who do not yet have their IDs need to apply and collect them before 4 November to cast their ballots.

Only three types of documents allow citizens to vote: a smart ID card, a green barcoded ID book or a valid temporary identity certificate. The Electoral Commission will not accept driver’s licences, passports, student cards or photocopies of ID documents at polling stations.

Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber said a valid ID opens the door to democratic participation.

“I call upon South Africans to make use of our vastly improved services to apply for and collect their IDs without delay,” Schreiber said.

More places to get your ID

The department has made it easier for citizens to get their documents. South Africans can now visit more than 1 000 locations to apply for a smart ID card, including over 450 participating bank branches.

This represents a fivefold increase from just two years ago, when the country had only about 200 access points.

Home Affairs expanded its partnership with Absa in July, which included the launch of the country’s first bank-based Home Affairs mobile unit.

Digital services coming soon

The digital partnership will grow before the end of the year to include applications for adult and minor passports, first-time smart ID card applications and home delivery of identity documents.

“Through Home Affairs @ home, we are making it easier than ever before for South Africans to replace the fraud-prone green barcoded ID book with the secure smart ID card,” Schreiber said.

The department has asked citizens who already have their identity documents to remind family members, friends and colleagues to apply now rather than wait until the last minute.

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