For illustration purposes.
A staggering total of 7,871 Smart Identity Document (ID) Cards are currently lying uncollected at various Department of Home Affairs (DHA) offices across the Gert Sibande District Municipality (GSDM).
The alarming number was revealed during a recent presentation by the DHA at the District Speaker’s Forum, which was convened by GSDM Council Speaker, Cllr Busisiwe Sekhonde, at the GSDM Office Complex in Ermelo on October 21.
While the primary focus of the forum was preparation for the upcoming 2026 Local Government Elections, the uncollected IDs highlighted a major administrative challenge.
Uncollected IDs: A breakdown by municipality
The data presented by the Department of Home Affairs detailed the massive backlog of uncollected cards, with some local offices holding thousands of finished IDs:
| Municipality | DHA Office | Number of Uncollected Smart IDs |
| Govan Mbeki | Secunda | 2,122 |
| Bethal | 1,250 | |
| Lekwa | Standerton | 1,214 |
| Mkhondo | Mkhondo | 1,087 |
| Chief Albert Luthuli | Eerstehoek | 830 |
| Msukaligwa | Ermelo | 786 |
| Chief Albert Luthuli | Carolina | 427 |
| Dr. Pixley Ka Isaka Seme | Volksrust | 155 |
| TOTAL | 7,871 |
The Secunda office in the Govan Mbeki Municipality currently holds the largest single number of uncollected IDs at 2,122, followed by Bethal (1,250) and Standerton (1,214).
Implications for the 2026 elections
The large quantity of uncollected IDs raises serious concerns, particularly given the forum’s focus on electoral readiness. A Smart ID Card is a fundamental legal document required for essential services and, crucially, for voter registration and casting a ballot.
The meeting also received key presentations from the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) and the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature on voter education.
The presence of nearly 8,000 completed but uncollected IDs suggests that a significant number of residents in the district may face obstacles to participation in the 2026 Local Government Elections if they fail to retrieve their documents.
GSDM authorities and the DHA are expected to launch intensified awareness campaigns to encourage residents to collect their Smart ID Cards, ensuring they have the necessary identification to participate fully in civic life and the democratic process.
