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Cape Town - Almost 200 000 newly issued smart ID cards are gathering dust at Home Affairs offices around the country.
Of the 187 799 cards that are ready for collection, in Gauteng 43 476 cards are waiting to be collected to replace the green ID book which is being phased out.
Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba released the figures following a written question put to him by DA MP Mohammed Hoosen.
In the Free State, there are 12 832 cards waiting to be collected, in the Eastern Cape 27 151, in Kwazulu-Natal 29 324, in Western Cape 20 027, in Limpopo 22 838, in Northern Cape 7071, in North West 13 456 and in Mpumalanga 11 335.
In banks, which are part of a Home Affairs pilot project, there are 289 uncollected ID cards.
An SMS had been sent to applicants to say the card was ready for collection. Reminder SMSes had also been sent.
