The City of Ekurhuleni is calling on its residents to collect the 19 150 smart identification documents (IDs) that are collecting dust at its home affairs office.
"The City of Ekurhuleni, as responsible government that promotes participatory democracy, urges residents to collect their IDs so they can register to vote during the voter registration period on 26 and 27 January 2019," the city says in a statement.
The introduction of smart IDs, which feature a contactless microchip, has become a critical part of the Department of Home Affairs' (DHA's) overall IT modernisation programme.
The first smart card was issued in 2013 as part of the process to replace 38 million green barcoded IDs. To date, the DHA has issued 10 million smart cards.
To simplify the application process for smart ID cards, the DHA introduced an online portal called eHomeAffairs. It also partnered with Absa, First National Bank, Nedbank and Standard Bank to fast-track the rollout of smart ID cards.
Ekurhuleni warns that uncollected identity documents hamper the city service delivery programmes because residents cannot register for other municipal programmes, such as RDP housing, and cannot collect their title deeds when they are available for collection.
Among the services the residents forgo due to lack of IDs are enlisting on the city's indigent database for which they are entitled free water, free electricity and indigent rebates to assessment rates.
The city also notes it will provide transport to elder residents, people living with disability, learners and military veterans to facilitate collection of the smart IDs.
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