NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 15
DATE OF PUBLICATION: Thursday, 13 February 2014
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 1 of 2014
Mrs S V Kalyan (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:
What (a)(i) marketing and (ii) communication is currently taking place to
educate the public on the roll-out of the Smart Identity Cards and (b) is
being done to educate officials in her departmentâs offices on Smart
Identity Cards?
NW16E
REPLY:
(a)(i) and (a)(ii) The department has embarked upon an advertising
campaign in all national and regional print media inviting 16
year-olds and above as well as pensioners who are 60 years and
above to approach the 28 designated offices of the department
countrywide to apply for Smart ID Cards. This is supplemented
by a radio advert on SAFM and community radio stations. We
intend extending the campaign to various television stations.
In addition the Ministry and Director-General have addressed
various platforms such as Imbizos, media briefings, breakfast
show and interviews on radio and television to disseminate key
Smart ID Card messages. These messages are also posted on our
departmental website which also contains an aspect dealing with
Frequently Asked Questions on the Smart ID Card
(b) The department has rolled out an intensive training of officials who
will be directly involved in the processing of the Smart ID
Cards in front offices. The department also utilises various
internal platforms such as Departmental Management Committee
meetings, Intranet, direct communication with staff through
workshops, placement of articles, internal print and electronic
monthly magazine (Ikhaya and eKhaya) respectively. The
department also utilises the Home Affairs Today newsletter for
Ministerial communiqué with Notes from the DGâs Desk being used
by the Director-General to communicate and educate staff on the
roll-out of the Smart ID Card.