A Timeline of South African Identity

• 1986: The Introduction of the ID Number: The current 13-digit sequence, incorporating date of birth, gender, and the checksum, was introduced.
• The Green ID Book Era: For decades, the green, book-style ID was the standard, but highly susceptible to forgery and wear.
• 2013: The Smart ID Card Rollout Begins: The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) began issuing the polycarbonate, card-style ID with advanced security features, including integrated circuits (chips) and biometric data.

Why the change matters: While the 13-digit ID number structure remains the same, the Smart Card's enhanced security features drastically improve the assurance that the number being used belongs to the legitimate holder.