/ 23 February 2010

SA ID book ‘the most stupid document you can imagine’

The designer of the South African identity book was “stupid”, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba has said.

The Times on Tuesday reported that Gigaba said the green bar-coded ID book was a mess.

“I think whoever designed it should win a Nobel stupidity prize. It is the most stupid document you can imagine,” he said at a Johannesburg workshop on Monday on human trafficking ahead of the World Cup.

Gigaba said the identity books were easily forged, creating problems for his department.

“Even the process to apply for it has so many loopholes. That’s why we cannot make progress [with the smart identity card]. We are stuck with a process that needs a complete overhaul.” — Sapa