South Africa is taking significant steps toward digitising its economy by introducing unique digital identities for its citizens and rolling out instant visa services, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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The South African Revenue Service (SARS), in collaboration with the central bank and the Department of Home Affairs, is spearheading efforts to create a unified digital identity system, according to SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter.
Currently, South Africans manage multiple identity numbers for various purposes, such as taxation, healthcare and business registration. Kieswetter pointed out that this fragmentation creates inefficiencies and opportunities for fraud.
‘In South Africa, I have several different IDs—for taxes, healthcare, and even as a company owner,’ he said. ‘This multiplicity of identities opens the door for misuse, as individuals can exploit the system to claim multiple benefits, like social grants and employment, without being detected.’
In addition to creating a unified identity system, SARS is collaborating with the Department of Home Affairs to implement a system for issuing instant visas. Using existing technologies that can already generate tax assessments in mere seconds, the government aims to offer instant visa approvals as part of a broader push for digital modernisation.
‘The technology required to make this happen is already available. We’re currently working together on a proof of concept for instant visa processing,’ Kieswetter explained.
The Department of Home Affairs is aligning its strategic goals with this digital transformation.
Spokesperson Duwayne Esau shared that the department is revising its five-year strategic and annual plans to include a focus on digital integration and inter-agency cooperation. However, he emphasised that the planning phase is still ongoing, and the process is in its early stages.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber previously outlined the department’s long-term vision for digitalisation, with a clear goal of transitioning to a fully digital system over the next five years.
As the country advances these digital initiatives, South Africa is positioning itself to streamline administrative processes, improve efficiency and reduce opportunities for fraud.
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