The world leader in digital security, will supply the Government Printing Works
(GPW) of South Africa with Sealys eID cards for their national identity program. GPW will harness Gemalto’s secure embedded
software to protect the holder’s image and biometric data within the secure
identity e-document, delivering outstanding levels of integrity and privacy.
Moreover, GPW selected the high-end Sealys document fitted with the contactless
feature, ensuring added levels
of convenience with unrivaled security for
citizens.
(At the bottom, from left to right:
Mrs Fatima Chohan (Deputy Minister of Home Affairs), Mrs Naledi Pandor
(Minister of Home Affairs), Mr Mkuseli Apleni (Director General of Home Affairs);
At the top, from left to right: Sello Mmakau (DHA), Dereck Chaplin (Altech MD),
Anthony Mbewu (GPW CEO), Pierre-Luc Arnaud (Gemalto)
Designed to modernize and replace
South Africa’s traditional, paper-based ‘green book’ identity documentation, the
new Sealys eID card will be offered by the Department for Home Affairs
(DHA) to citizens aged 16 and over. The South African government embarked on
this service program to improve confidence in official identity credentials and
to prepare for the deployment of a comprehensive suite of efficient and
convenient eGovernment services.
Leveraging experience that already
includes participation to over 80 national programs worldwide, Gemalto is
providing GPW with an advanced and highly durable polycarbonate eID card
specifically designed to counter forgery. Furthermore, the Sealy eID
supports public key infrastructure (PKI) and match-on-card authentication
techniques to enable easy verification of authenticity and a future-proof
platform capable of providing a broad range of secure online services such as
online and in-person authentication as well as 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.”
Distributed by the African Press
Organization on behalf of Gemalto.