Brief
South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister Demonstrates First Working Digital ID
Leon Schreiber used his own smartphone credential to illustrate the new MyMzansi digital ID system, highlighting its verification features and future wallet functions.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber unveiled what he described as South Africa’s first working digital identity credential on Thursday in Johannesburg, using his own smartphone in a live demonstration, TechCentral reported.
What happened
During a speech marking the halfway point of the government of national unity’s term, Schreiber opened the MyMzansi digital ID app, confirmed his identity with a thumbprint and displayed his official photograph from the population register. Director‑General Tommy Makhode, introduced as the country’s most senior immigration officer, used a verifier app to request Schreiber’s population‑register details. Schreiber generated a QR code, which Makhode scanned, and the verifier displayed fields such as nationality. When Schreiber later turned off his ID number and declined a second request, the verifier was denied access.
What the reports add
TechCentral noted that the demonstration also featured a mock‑up of a digital wallet that could store other Home Affairs credentials, including birth and marriage certificates, although Schreiber’s personal wallet was not shown. The outlet emphasized that Schreiber did not announce a public rollout date for the digital ID.
What was said
“What you are about to see is not only a real working digital identity credential that has been formally issued through the population register and securely bound to the chip on the smartphone I will soon use,” Schreiber told the audience.
“Digital ID cannot and will not be a photograph of your ID card on your phone,” he added, describing it as “a remote verification tool” linked to biometrics.
How it came about
The demo followed earlier government efforts to digitise public services, highlighted at the GovTech 2026 conference in Durban, where a Progress Tracker for digital milestones was introduced. South Africa’s broader digital agenda includes plans for electronic passports, birth registration and visa processing, all of which are expected to integrate with the new MyMzansi platform.
Key facts
- Leon Schreiber demonstrated a working digital ID on his smartphone in Johannesburg. (techcentral.co.za)
- The demo used the MyMzansi app and a verifier app operated by Director‑General Tommy Makhode. (techcentral.co.za)
- Schreiber declined a second verification request, showing that access can be denied. (techcentral.co.za)
- A digital wallet prototype was shown that could hold birth and marriage certificates. (techcentral.co.za)
- No public launch date for the digital ID was announced. (techcentral.co.za)
Sources
- [1] techcentral.co.za — originally reported as “South Africa's digital ID is here - but you can't have it yet”
