The DHA is custodian, protector and verifier of the identity and status of citizens and other persons resident in South Africa. For years, IT failures forced South Africans born abroad, as well as permanent residents, to continue using only the insecure green bar-coded ID book and excluded them from obtaining the more-secure Smart ID. It also prevented them from using the eHomeAffairs platform to make bookings. In rare cases, a small number of naturalised citizens were able to obtain Smart IDs only after being granted permission by the Minister and following a tedious manual process. But the Department’s digital transformation drive has now changed all of this and has delivered change for over 1.4 million eligible South Africans and lawful permanent residents. For the first time ever, they will now be able to use eHomeAffairs and obtain Smart IDs like all other eligible persons.