10 million smart cards issued to citizens in past five years

A total of 10 million smart ID cards have been issued to South African citizens in the past five years, South African Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gibaba said. "When the first card was issued, in 2013, around 38 million people had green-barcoded IDs. I am pleased to announce, we now have issued 10 million smart cards. This, in spite of challenges in infrastructure, systems and staffing," Gigaba said in a media briefing ahead of tabling his budget vote in Parliament.