Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, has emphasized the need for digital transformation in South Africa’s electoral system during the IEC Conference and Exhibition on Electronic Voting Technologies. Addressing key stakeholders, including the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and government agencies, Schreiber highlighted the critical role of technology in modernizing elections and enhancing public trust in democracy.
Following the 2024 general elections and the formation of the Government of National Unity, the Home Affairs ecosystem embarked on a series of digital reforms aimed at automating government services. The Minister outlined four major initiatives that will impact future elections:
- Expansion of Smart IDs – Aiming to phase out the green bar-coded ID books, Smart IDs will be made accessible in hundreds of bank branches, ensuring citizens can obtain them closer to home. This shift will reduce fraud risks and enhance voter registration security.
- Introduction of a Digital ID System – By 2029, South Africa aims to have a fully functional digital ID system, allowing citizens to securely store IDs and official documents on smartphones while providing verifiable biometric credentials.
- Enhancements to the Population Register – The new National Identification Registration Bill will transform the population register into a modern, digital-first instrument that captures biometric data, strengthening immigration control and preventing illegal voter participation.
- Electoral Reform Consultation Panel – Recommendations for electoral policy changes will be tabled in Parliament, ensuring that the IEC remains at the forefront of electoral accountability.
Schreiber commended the IEC for implementing online voter registration but pointed out discrepancies, such as polling stations still relying on manual paper-based verification on voting day. He stressed that digital transformation must improve efficiency, security, and trust in the electoral process.
“The goal of digital transformation is not just to move inefficient processes from paper to digital but to fundamentally improve the experience for voters,” Schreiber stated. “Queues should get shorter, trust in election outcomes should increase, and security should be stronger, not weaker.”
With declining voter turnout and growing concerns over election integrity, the Minister urged the IEC to collaborate with Home Affairs in ensuring full system interoperability. As South Africa gears up for local government elections in 2026 or 2027, these digital reforms are expected to modernize the voting experience and safeguard democracy.
The conference will explore these digital innovations and their impact on future elections, setting the stage for a technology-driven electoral system in South Africa.
