Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber has defended the proposed Digital ID South Africa system, saying it is meant to give citizens easier access to services, not expand state surveillance.

The draft regulations, published for public comment in May 2026, would create secure digital identity credentials for smartphones. However, the proposal has drawn objections from privacy-focused critics, including Lex Libertas.

Home Affairs says digital IDs will remain optional

According to the South African Government, the draft amendments were gazetted under the Identification Act of 1997 and opened for comment until 6 June 2026. The proposed Digital ID South Africa system would allow people to store and use digital versions of Home Affairs documents, including identity documents, birth certificates and marriage certificates.

The department says digital credentials would exist alongside physical products such as Smart ID cards. It also says the system would use biometric verification to let citizens confirm their identity remotely.

Schreiber told MyBroadband that Digital ID forms part of the department’s Home Affairs @ home vision. He said citizens would be able to access services “wherever they are and whenever they need them”.

Critics warn of privacy and exclusion risks

Lex Libertas said it submitted formal objections to the Department of Home Affairs. The group warned that a centralised digital identity system could create the infrastructure for surveillance, exclusion and political abuse.

Dr Ernst Roets, executive director of Lex Libertas, said the proposal should not be viewed only as an administrative reform. The organisation also raised concerns about powers linked to accreditation, data sharing and suspension of digital credentials.

Schreiber rejected claims that the system would track citizens’ spending, location, banking information or financial records. He said the digital ID would instead give citizens more control over information already held in the population register.

MyMzansi forms part of the wider plan

The Digital ID South Africa proposal also connects to the government’s MyMzansi digital transformation roadmap. MyMzansi says functional Digital ID will support verified document sharing and secure remote access to services.

The roadmap lists digital identity as a key part of Phase 1, which runs from 2025 to 2027. It also links digital ID to wider public service reform, including unified digital channels.

For now, the regulations remain a proposal. Home Affairs has said it will consider public comments before finalising the rules.