COSATU welcomes milestone in Smart ID rollout [SOUND]

# Union federation COSATU has welcomed progress in the rollout of Smart ID cards and other civic services by the Department of Home Affairs. Just over seven months since the department launched its new digital partnership model with the banking sector, more than one million South Africans have already used this new decentralised service channel to obtain a Smart ID card. COSATU’s Matthew Parks says the department needs continued support as it has faced years of challenges, including state capture, corruption, budget cuts, high vacancy rates and ageing infrastructure: