South Africa is working on a unique digital identity

Pretoria, the capital of South Africa, aims to streamline its administrative management and better combat fraud.

Edward Kieswetter, Director of the South African Revenue Service, announced at the end of October 2024 that the country is working on creating a unique digital identity for its citizens. The Revenue Service, the Central Bank, and the Ministry of Home Affairs of South Africa intend to centralize the various identities used by public administrations. The goal is twofold: to simplify and streamline the processing of administrative files and to combat fraud.

“The absence of a digital identity means that in South Africa, I have an identification number, a tax number, a company registration number, and another for being a hospital patient,” Edward Kieswetter explained. “I appear in the system under many different identities, which allows for certain loopholes: for example, I can be employed and receive social assistance because the system hasn’t flagged me,” the Revenue Service Director added.

Edward Kieswetter also announced that his department is working with the Ministry of Home Affairs on an instant visa issuance service.