South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs expects to begin piloting a new ‘smart card’ identity document (ID) during the 2012/13 fiscal year.

In a response to a Parliamentary question posed by the Democratic Alliance’s shadow Home Affairs Minister Annette Lovemore on when the department anticipated introducing the ‘Smart ID Card’ and at what cost, Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said that the roll-out plan still had to be determined.

But Dlamini-Zuma added that all South Africans would be required to obtain a card ID, which would eventually replace the current green barcoded ID book.

“Planning is in progress to ensure that infrastructure in front offices, such as live capture, is completed prior to Smart Card implementation. The system is envisaged to be piloted during the 2012/13 financial year,” she added.

The cost would only be determined once the business requirements had been crafted.

It currently costs the department R140 to produce a South African ID book, which included printing, distribution and administration costs.

There were no immediate plans to replace the South African Passport, which the Minister insisted contained all relevant security features and currently costs about R400 to produce.

“Should the department, at a later stage, find a need to upgrade any current security features, this will be done in consultation with all relevant stakeholders,” Dlamini-Zuma said.