By Romeo Smith

Vodacom has stopped accepting driving licence cards as proof of identity when new or returning customers take out new products, make package changes, and port numbers.

The mobile network began sending SMS messages to customers late last week, informing them about the change and explaining that it was a protection measure against identity fraud.

“Going forward, only valid ID documents or passports will be accepted as a form of identification. Driver’s licenses will not be accepted,” Vodacom said.

A Vodacom spokesperson explained the change was due to its stores adding biometric authentication with real-time identity verification via the Home Affairs National Identification System (Hanis).

“Hanis is a South African system designed to verify individuals’ identities using biometric data like fingerprints and facial recognition,” they said.

The spokesperson said that one issue with the driving licence card is that it does not contain the holder’s full personal details. The cards only have a holder’s initials and surname, not their full names.

“Vodacom remains committed to protecting customers and ensuring that all identity verification processes align with industry best practices,” they said.

Refusing to accept driving licence cards for identity verification is not unusual for the telecoms industry.

All four of South Africa’s other mobile networks — MTN, Telkom, Cell C, or Rain — only accept ID books, smart ID cards, or passports as valid means of identification.

The driving licence card is also considered highly susceptible to fraud and forgery, according to Smile ID’s 2025 Digital Identity Fraud in Africa Report.

The identity protection firm found that the document was the 11th most targeted for fraud in Africa. Smile ID’s system flagged fraud in 14% of cases where it was used for identity verification purposes.

While that figure is significant, the green ID book is an even bigger target. Smile ID flagged 34% of cases where the ID book was used for identity verification as potential fraud attempts.

Despite this, South African businesses still widely accept the green ID book. The only exception is when a book has been seriously damaged — which could be a sign of tampering.

It is unlikely that businesses will stop accepting green ID books for identity verification altogether, as many people still don’t have smart ID cards or have never applied for passports.

New driving licence cards will feature

South African businesses may reintroduce support for driving licence card-based verification if the much-delayed smart driving licence card rolls out.

The card is set to include significant physical and digital security upgrades that will ensure it is a valid means of identification.

However, due to irregularities in the awarding of the new licence card contract to French firm Idemia, it could still be many years before the new card is available.

The Department of Transport has applied to the High Court to have the contract set aside. The need to have new cards and the R1 billion cost of the machines that will print them have also been criticised.

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse has said that a new card would only treat the symptoms of South Africa’s driving licence card problems.

It has proposed a unified system where the driving licence is linked to a person’s smart ID card, which traffic officials can then scan to confirm the record.

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) recently outlined an even more ambitious plan to introduce a digital ID system that will allow people to store government-issued documents in a smartphone app.

The transport department also had plans to launch an electronic driving licence (eDL) that can be stored on a smartphone.

However, considering that Home Affairs’ digital ID system will also support this, a standalone eDL may no longer be on the table.

The DHA will soon submit a digital ID policy for Cabinet approval. The system is expected to be completed by 2029, by which time the smart ID card should entirely replace the green ID book.