Smart ID cards put on hold

The process aimed at replacing South Africa's green identity documents with sophisticated smart cards similar to credit cards, has been put on hold for now. Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula says controversies had arisen regarding a suitable model for the smart ID card and Cabinet is still to make a decision. The smart ID card is part of the Home Affairs National Identification System, or Hanis, aimed at converting the manual identification systems to a technology-based one. Conceived in 1993, Hanis includes the automated fingerprint identification system.