Pretoria – President Jacob Zuma will on Tuesday 30 July receive his Smart ID card during a visit to the Home Affairs office and Government Printing Works in Pretoria. President Zuma had his biometric details, photograph and electronic signature captured early this month as part of preparations to introduce the Smart ID card to the citizenry.

The Smart ID card adds to the momentum of efforts by the democratic government which began with the dawn of peace, democracy and justice in South Africa in 1994, to restore identity, citizenship and dignity to all South Africans irrespective of colour, race or religion.

During the visit to the Home Affairs offices, President Zuma is expected to receive his Smart ID Card from Minister of Home Affairs, Naledi Pandor before visiting the Government Printing Works, where he will preside over the ceremony to name the four Smart ID card printing machines, after Sophie De Bruyn, Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph and Rahima Moosa.

The naming ceremony is in honour of the historic women’s march to Union Buildings in 1956, led by the four women leaders, to demand an end to the pass laws and all restrictions that had been placed  by successive racist regime against the majority of the people.

The government has announced its intentions to introduce the Smart ID card this year, 2013, in a phased manner, taking into account the months of birth. In this regard, the government has appealed to the public to exercise patience as the process of rolling out the Smart ID card to millions of South Africans will take a few years. More announcement regarding details of the rollout will be made during the course of the year.

MEDIA IS INVITED AS FOLLOWS:

VISIT TO BYRON PLACE

TIME: 13H00 FOR 13H30

DATE: TUESDAY 30 JULY 2013

VENUE: BYRON PLACE, CORNER SOPHIE DE BRUYN AND NINA SITA STREET, PRETORIA

NAMING CEREMONY- GOVERNMENT PRINTING WORKS (GPW)

TIME: 14H00

DATE: TUESDAY 30 JULY 2013

VENUE: GPW, CORNER SOPHIE DE BRUYN AND VISAGIE STREET, PRETORIA

For more info contact Zanele Mngadi at 082-330-1148 (Presidency) and Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853 (Home Affairs) 29 July 2013, Pretoria