Are you about to apply for your ID for the first time? Here are steps to help you go about it.
Identity documents are issued to South African citizens or permanent residence permit holders who are 16 years or older.
People (including spouses and children) who are working for the South African government or one of its statutory bodies outside of South Africa also qualify to receive a South African ID.

You can apply for your ID at any office of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) or any South African mission or consulate overseas.
All applications are sent to the Department’s head office in Pretoria.
There, your fingerprints will be matched with those already on record or entered into the National Population Register.
Your application will then be processed and once issued, your ID will be forwarded to the office where you made your application for you to collect.

Step 1: Visit www.dha.gov.za.
Step 2: Click on Branch Appointment Booking System (BABS).
Step 3: Enter your South African ID number.
Step 4: Enter your other personal details in the fields provided.
Step 5: Select your province, city and branch.
Step 6: Click on select timeslots

Applying for an identity document for the first time
First time applicants must submit the following documentation to their nearest DHA office or South African mission or consulate abroad:
•    Form BI-9, completed in black ink
•    A certified copy of your birth certificate or reference book or a copy of the old Transkei, Bophutatswana, Venda or Ciskei homelands identity or travel documents
•    Two identical, colour photographs (not needed at smartcard offices as ID images are captured digitally, however, colour photographs are still needed for temporary IDs)
•    Your fingerprints will be taken by a Home Affairs official and imprinted on Form DHA-9.

Correcting errors in the ID Document
If you get your ID book and there are errors in the personal information contained within, the DHA will replace your ID free of charge. To apply to correct information in your ID, simply submit the following to any office of the DHA:
•    Forms BI-9 and BI-309 completed with the correct information
•    Proof of the error, that shows the correct information e.g. birth certificate
•    Two identical colour photographs (not needed at smartcard offices as ID images are captured digitally)

The "Afrikaans Uber" service Wanatu is taking legal action against Tshwane's authorities over its crackdown of e-hailing vehicles.
The company has received the support of hundreds of drivers across various e-hailing platforms voicing their concerns about the alleged "unlawful" activities of the metro.
 
Between a rock and a hard place
Wanatu is a new e-hailing platform that launched in 2024 and has unofficially been dubbed the "Afrikaans Uber" owing to its name and language policy.
The name is a play on the Afrikaans word "waarnatoe," which translates to "where to," and the company also requires that all its drivers are fluent in Afrikaans.

The service temporarily suspended its operations on 5 February 2025 after two of its vehicles were impounded by the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD).
Wanatu described the metro's actions as unlawful and accused the police of intimidating its drivers.
It went on to say that ensuring the safety of its passengers and adhering to South African laws and regulations is more important than chasing profits, and subsequently shut down its services until the dispute is resolved.
 
The impoundments were spurred by Gauteng Provincial Legislature member Ayanda Allie, who accused the Tshwane metro of having double standards with regard to enforcing regulations on e-hailing drivers.
 
Other e-hailing companies such as Bolt, Uber, and inDrive have been complaining about a crackdown by the TMPD that started in late 2024, with officers setting up strategic roadblocks to fine and impound drivers without road carrier permits.
Many drivers were angered by this tactic as they had already applied for a licence, but the Gauteng Roads and Transport Department currently has a severe backlog of over 20,000 pending road carrier permit applications.
 
This issue has persisted for well over a year, too, as the department suspended new applications in November 2023 - several months before an amendment was made to the National Roads Traffic Act in June 2024 that introduced the requirement for the road permits, according to MyBroadband.
This effectively leaves e-hailing drivers with one of two choices: either stop working and lose their income, or continue to operate and hope that they aren't pulled over by the TMPD.
 
When their vehicle is impounded for lacking the necessary credentials, it can cost anywhere from R3,000 to R6,000 to get it back.
Drivers are encouraged to carry proof of their application to negate this issue, but these have not been accepted in many cases.
 
Resolving the issue
On 6 February, Wanatu called upon other e-hailing drivers to join its court action against Tshwane authorities.
"Wanatu is fighting for e-hailing driver rights in court. If you're an e-hailing driver and can't represent yourself, join our application," it said.
It didn't take long for the company to gain support, as it received over 200 emails in just the first two days from operators expressing their frustration with the current cycle of permit applications and impoundments.

The e-hailing service's court battle is being supported by non-profit organisation The Lions and the Tshwane West E-hailing Association, which is being registered as the Mzansi Independent E-Hailing Partners.

While Wanatu has suspended its services until the matter is resolved, Bolt, Uber, and inDrive are continuing to operate in the city.
One of the concerns for Wanatu vehicles is that they are more easily identified than other services, as they all use Toyota Corolla Cross models with clear branding - making them an easy target for TMPD roadblocks.

The new 'Travel Rule' mandates crypto exchanges to share client information when facilitating crypto transfers above R5 000 as part of its campaign to get SA off the grey list.
 
The change will slow crypto transfer - but in the longer term could attract more institutional investors to crypto. The change will slow crypto transfer - but in the longer term could attract more institutional investors to crypto.
The days of crypto privacy are coming to an end, though many would argue that happened when crypto exchanges enforced Know Your Client (KYC) sign-up rules.
 
A new "Travel Rule" issued by the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), which takes effect on 30 April 2025, requires crypto asset service providers (Casps) to collect and share client information when facilitating crypto transfers above R5 000.
 
Even amounts less than R5 000 must be reported if there is a suspicion of money laundering or terrorism financing.
 
Privacy-conscious crypto users may turn to platforms with fewer restrictions or decentralised exchanges (DEXs) that fall outside the rule's scope.
 
The short-term impact of the rule will be to raise the costs of compliance for exchanges, which will have to conduct due diligence on customers' transfers.
 
Longer term, the impact could unlock access to regulated markets and attract institutional investors concerned about crypto's perceived lack of regulatory compliance.
 
This is part of the price of getting SA removed from the Financial Action Task Force grey list. SA was placed on the grey list in February 2023 for failing to meet international standards on money laundering and terrorism financing, and crypto transfers are seen as a point of vulnerability.
 
Also covered under the new rule are crypto transfers destined for "unhosted wallets" where the user - rather than the exchange - has exclusive control of the wallet.
 
Both sending and receiving exchanges must implement effective risk-based policies for crypto transfers destined for wallets.
 
Impact
The Travel Rule is designed to enhance transparency in digital asset transactions and will have a major impact on local exchanges in SA, according to Frank Leonette, CEO of crypto exchange AfriDax.
 
"This new rule will reshape the operational landscape for the crypto industry," he says.
 
"Casps are required to make significant investments in new technologies and infrastructure. Implementing systems to securely collect, verify, and share customer data, including wallet addresses and account details, will be essential.
 
"For many Casp platforms, this will require upgrading existing infrastructure and integrating specialised Travel Rule solutions such as blockchain analytics tools and standardised messaging protocols."
 

The changes required under the new rule will slow crypto transfer and could require manual intervention, which means more manpower will be required by exchanges.
 
Failure to comply with the Travel Rule could result in administrative sanctions under the FIC Act.

Farzam Ehsani, CEO of VALR, the largest exchange in SA by trading volume, says the company must ensure compliance with the laws of the country.
 
"The travel rule is no different and the cost of compliance is certainly increasing. We do believe that changes will ultimately be made to make the Travel Rule more appropriate for the crypto asset industry. We are working with the industry and regulators to try to achieve this."
 
Faadil Moti, CEO of crypto company 80eight, says the new Travel Rule is similar to that adopted in the EU and elsewhere.
 
"Many exchanges have already started complying by registering on TRUST, which is a network that facilitates the secure transmission of required customer information between exchanges during crypto transfers.
 
"While this may initially be seen as disruptive to local exchanges, it is an inevitable standard that all crypto platforms will eventually need to adhere to," says Moti.
 
What type of information?
The Travel Rule requires exchanges and crypto service providers to collect and record basic details of both the sender and receiver of crypto assets - including profile information, account numbers, and wallet addresses.
 
In practice, this means that when a crypto transfer is processed, additional details beyond just the recipient's wallet address will need to be captured, not unlike saving a beneficiary contact when dealing with a bank.
 
Recipients' details required include name, wallet address, and other essential details. These will be "whitelisted", allowing the sending exchange to securely verify and transmit this information to the receiving exchange via networks like TRUST.
 
Moti says many exchanges in SA already have the necessary infrastructure for implementing the new rule.
 
"However, the real challenge may be for smaller crypto companies that lack the resources to comply, potentially raising barriers to entry in the industry."
 
Anonymity
One key consequence of this rule is that crypto transactions will no longer be entirely anonymous. Much like SWIFT payments require sender and receiver details, crypto transfers will now require similar transparency.
 
However, one of the biggest concerns from a regulatory perspective is how exchange control policies will treat this shift.
 
"Transfers to unhosted wallets or offshore exchanges may now be flagged as externalisation, which could significantly restrict industry innovation and hinder the sector's growth in South Africa," says Moti.
 
"My view is that exchange control regulations need a thorough review to evolve alongside technological advancements, ensuring South Africa remains competitive in the global digital asset space.
 
"At present, the framework feels outdated and may limit the industry's potential rather than fostering its development," he adds.
 
It has been done before ...
Says Luno SA country manager Christo de Wit: "Having successfully implemented the Travel Rule in multiple jurisdictions globally, Luno is keenly aware of the challenges that regulators and industry participants face when adopting a compliant solution.
 
"These challenges include selecting an appropriate technical framework and managing the significant time and costs required to build the necessary systems and processes.
 
"While the directive brings South Africa in line with global anti-money laundering and terrorism financing standards, practical implementation hurdles remain, especially with regards to international interoperability between different Travel Rule solutions."
 
Good for trust in the sector
FiveWest CEO Omer Iqbal says the Travel Rule will help to enhance the reputation and legitimacy of the crypto sector.
 
"By increasing transparency and traceability, it strengthens efforts against money laundering and terrorist financing.
 
"Though it introduces additional compliance burdens, slower transactions and potentially a more restricted experience, it also legitimises the industry."
 
He adds that Casps must "proactively implement the Travel Rule and implement the necessary systems, strengthen compliance and train their teams to adapt".
 
"The Travel Rule ultimately reinforces trust and stability in South Africa's crypto market."

A Zimbabwean national accused of using a fraudulent South African permanent residence permit when applying for employment has been denied bail.

 Kudakwashe Mpofu, 33, the Chief Financial Officer at the North West Development Corporation was arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigations (known as the Hawks) on January 28, 2025.
The National Prosecuting Authority said Mpofu who faces a charge of fraud appeared in the Mmabatho Magistrate's Court in the North West.

Explaining the merits of the case NPA spokesperson Sivenathi Gunya said it is alleged that in  March 2021, the North West Development Corporation advertised the position of Asset Manager based in Head Office in Mafikeng.
"Investigations indicate that Mpofu applied for the position."
He said as part of the application process, Mpofu attached all the necessary documents, including his permanent residence permit which is alleged to be fraudulent.

"He was successfully appointed to the position on May 1, 2021."
The NPA said in June 2023 Mpofu was appointed as Chief Financial Officer of the entity.
"The State alleges that Mpofu submitted a fraudulent South African permanent residence when applying for the job in North West Development Corporations.

The NPA said that the State further alleges that the permit was never issued by the Department of Home Affairs.
The court heard that Mpofu is a flight risk and might evade trial if released because he is illegally in the country.
"The state further presented an affidavit from an official of the Department of Home Affairs which confirmed that the permanent residence permit of the accused was never issued by Home Affairs and it is fraudulent."
The accused will remain behind bars and will appear in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court sitting in Mmabatho on March 19, 2025.

These workers received 15 159 such permits in the US fiscal year through September, 19% more than a year earlier, Department of State data shows. 

The US issued a record number of visas to South Africans who do seasonal work on American farms last year.

These workers received 15 159 such permits in the US fiscal year through September, 19% more than a year earlier, Department of State data shows. The vast majority of South African agricultural guest labourers in the US are White — descendants of the Europeans who colonised the nation from the 1600s.

While the country’s citizens are the second-biggest recipients of these so-called H2-A visas, they garner far fewer permits than people from Mexico, to whom the US issued 285 919 in the period, the data shows.

The US granted 310 767 temporary visas to migrant workers in fiscal 2023, more than triple the amount distributed a decade earlier. American farms depend on more than 850 000 crop workers, almost half of whom the Department of Agriculture estimates are undocumented.

In an executive order Friday, President Donald Trump said that the US would promote the resettlement of so-called Afrikaners and their families as refugees, an offer Pretoria quickly contrasted with Trump’s immigration crackdown at home. He issued the directive after falsely claiming that the South African authorities are confiscating private property under new land legislation.

The order stated that the Expropriation Act, signed in December, enables the government “to seize ethnic-minority Afrikaners’ agricultural property without compensation,” and follows “countless government policies designed to dismantle equal opportunity in employment, education, and business, and hateful rhetoric and government actions fueling disproportionate violence against racially disfavoured landowners.”

The bill is similar to eminent-domain laws in the US that allows the government to expropriate land in some cases. South Africa’s second-biggest political party, the Democratic Alliance, on February 7 asked the High Court for an order that would nullify the act in its current form.

Under apartheid, most Black South Africans were forbidden from owning property. White people continue to control the vast majority of farmland, despite accounting for only 7% of the population.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s party, the African National Congress, blamed White Afrikaans rights group AfriForum for Washington’s move, saying that its years of lobbying right-wing US politicians have “misled the global community and protect apartheid-era land-ownership patterns.”

While some groups have said that White farmers have been targeted in violent attacks, crime in South Africa is broadly rampant, with many blaming extreme inequality for rising levels of murders and assaults on residents of all races. Economic growth has averaged less than 1% annually for the past decade and the jobless rate is among the highest in nations tracked by Bloomberg.

More than 20 000 Afrikaners have already asked the South African Chamber of Commerce in the USA about Trump’s offer for refugee status, Netwerk24 reported, citing the chamber’s president, Neil Diamond