June 5, 2013: South Africa has selected Gemalto, a leader in digital security, to supply the Government Printing Works (GPW) with Sealys eID cards for their national identity program. The Sealy eID cards will use Gemalto’s secure embedded software to protect the holder’s image and biometric data. The e-document will be fitted with a contactless feature thereby allowing for convenience while providing security, integrity and privacy.
The new e-document to be offered by the Department for Home Affairs (DHA) will be provided to citizens aged 16 and over to replace South Africa’s paper based little green ID-Book .
The new eID card provided by Gemalto will be made of a durable polycarbonate specifically designed to counter forgery and will support public key infrastructure (PKI) and match-on-card authentication techniques. With future needs of GPW in mind these attributes will enable easy verification of authenticity and provide a broad range of secure online services such as online and in-person authentication and legally binding digital signatures.
“Gemalto demonstrated their proven ability to deliver high-end eID secure documents within an ambitious schedule,” said Professor Anthony Mbewu, CEO of GPW. “Plans are already in place for the next phases of the modernization program, and we are very confident in Gemalto’s deep expertise and state-of-the-art technology in supporting our future aspirations.”
“Our local presence in Johannesburg provides a key benefit in ensuring a strategic partnership with the GPW,” said Ari Bouzbib, Senior Vice President of Government Programs at Gemalto. “This new project marks another significant acceleration in the momentum behind eGovernment initiatives on the continent, where Gemalto has already deployed a number of major programs.”
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