The European Union’s revised eIDAS framework and the European Digital Identity Regulations require each member state to offer at least one EU Digital Identity Wallet to citizens, residents and businesses by the end of 2026. Parallel measures, on security standards for ID documents, are pushing states towards chip-based, machine-readable identity credentials as the norm. The stated purpose is coherent: harmonised, higher-assurance IDs to reduce fraud, secure digital services and simplify intra-EU mobility.
The UK has chosen a more drastic approach. Under the digital ID scheme outlined in various UK government materials and supporting announcements, a mandatory digital credential will be required for right-to-work checks and other key verifications. The narrative focuses on a tool that will align migration enforcement, labour market policing and modern service delivery.Protests and sharp op-edshave followed close behind.
South Africa is stepping on to this stage with unusual speed and confidence. Crucially, this is not just a rebrand of the existing smart ID card: the smart ID is a physical, chip-based identity document, whereas the proposed digital ID is a new, wallet-style credential that would sit on top of the population register and smart ID system as a separate layer of control. In July, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced that the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) would submit a Digital ID policy to the Cabinet to enable public consultations.
Read Full Article on Daily Maverick
[paywall]
Shortly afterwards, theMyMzansi “digital public infrastructure” (DPI) roadmap was unveiled: a single digital ID, a data-exchange platform and digital payments layer. In practical terms, this envisages a state-controlled data spine linking Home Affairs, revenue, social grants and other core systems, with the digital ID acting as the key that unlocks those rails across public and private services. The pitch is attractive: one secure identity to access state services, social support, financial products and private platforms, all from your phone; less queuing, less fraud, less paperwork and more dignity for all.
A well-designed digital ID can reduce transaction costs for people who already exist clearly in the system and deepen inclusion for those who struggle to prove themselves, over and over. The EU model, at least on paper, constrains itself: voluntary wallets, multiple credentials, explicit data-minimisation duties, strong links to an independent data-protection regime. Used this way, a digital ID becomes an instrument people deploy, not a leash the state tightens.
[/paywall]
