Mr Speaker, I think it is important that when we engage in the constituency work that we all do as members of Parliament, we indicate to the public of South Africa that the change to the smart ID card is an important step forward in the management of security for our country. Thus we should encourage our people to take up the smart ID card once we call on them to apply.
I would like to remind the hon member from the DA, who is a member of the committee, that we are not saying you must immediately apply for the smart ID card. We have said that we would take between four and six years to reach every South African. So, we haven't called on every person to find the R140 immediately. May I say that with countries that have made a change of this kind, the public is required to pay a fee toward the new identity document or card. Now, what we have agreed with the National Treasury is that all first applicants will receive the card free. With respect to senior citizens who are registered on the South African Social Security Agency register as grant recipients, they will receive the card free. The rest will apply and pay R140. Thank you. [Applause.]
ANC's ABUSE OF STATE RESOURCES IN CAMPAIGN FOR NONGOMA BY-ELECTION