Mastering South Africa’s Identity Verification: A Merchant's Guide with Shufti
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Got it Resend EmailUnderstanding the Challenges of South African Identity Documents
Effective identity verification in South Africa requires a deep understanding of the distinct features and challenges of South African identity documents. Shufti’s OCR and identity verification technology is optimized to handle these complexities:
1. Linguistic Diversity
South African identity documents, including the smart ID card and the older green barcoded ID book, reflect the country's rich linguistic diversity. While English serves as the primary language on these documents, ensuring nationwide consistency, other languages are also commonly used, depending on the region or population group.
English
English is the dominant language on all South African ID documents. Key information such as the holder’s name, ID number, date of birth and issuing authority is presented in English to facilitate understanding across the country.
Afrikaans
As one of the country’s major languages, Afrikaans is often seen alongside English on identity documents, particularly in regions where it is widely spoken. For example: "Surname" appears as "Van" and "ID Number" as "ID Nommer."
Regional Languages
In certain areas, local languages such as Zulu, Xhosa, or Sotho may appear on ID documents. These languages are used to reflect the cultural and linguistic preferences of the local population. For example: "Surname" in Zulu is "Isibongo," while in Xhosa, it is "Ifani."
Although English and Afrikaans are the most commonly used languages, South African identity documents reflect the country’s 11 official languages, depending on regional practices. This multilingual approach ensures that citizens can engage with their documents in a familiar language.
Overall, the use of multiple languages on South African ID documents highlights the nation’s commitment to linguistic inclusivity while maintaining English as a unifying language for national documentation.
2. Multiple Identity Document Formats
South African identity documents may vary slightly depending on the issuing authority or region. For example, older ID books may have handwritten information, while newer smart cards are machine-readable. Shufti’s continuous updates ensure its OCR and verification systems remain compatible with these variations, allowing for reliable extraction of data across all types of identity documents.
South Africa employs a range of identity documents, including the older green barcoded ID book, the newer smart ID card, and various types of passports. Each document comes with unique features and layouts.
3. Understanding South Africa Naming Structure
South African identity documents, including the smart ID card and the older green barcoded ID book, reflect the country's rich linguistic diversity. While English serves as the primary language on these documents, ensuring nationwide consistency, other languages are also commonly used, depending on the region or population group.
Surname (Family Name)
This is listed first on the ID, representing the individual's family name.
Example: Mokoena
Given Names (First and Middle Names)
These are listed after the surname, typically including the first and any middle names.
Example: Thandiwe Nomvula
A Merchant’s Guide to Identity Verification in South Africa
In South Africa, identity verification for merchants is regulated by the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA), which requires businesses to implement KYC procedures to combat fraud, money laundering, and terrorism financing. Merchants must verify the identity of their customers by collecting official documents such as ID cards or passports, proof of address, and sometimes financial information. These measures help ensure compliance with local laws and foster trust while minimizing risks associated with financial crimes. Non-compliance with FICA can result in severe penalties, making it essential for merchants to adhere to the regulations. Shufti offers two Verification Modes: Onsite Verification Mode and Offsite Verification Mode — these modes allow merchants to choose the best approach based on their specific use cases and requirements.
Download the Top 10 Most Difficult Countries for Identity Verification
Download full report1. Verification Modes
Onsite Verification
In South Africa, identity verification for merchants is regulated by the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA), which requires businesses to implement KYC procedures to combat fraud, money laundering, and terrorism financing. Merchants must verify the identity of their customers by collecting official documents such as ID cards or passports, proof of address, and sometimes financial information. These measures help ensure compliance with local laws and foster trust while minimizing risks associated with financial crimes. Non-compliance with FICA can result in severe penalties, making it essential for merchants to adhere to the regulations. Shufti offers two Verification Modes: Onsite Verification Mode and Offsite Verification Mode — these modes allow merchants to choose the best approach based on their specific use cases and requirements.
Offsite Verification
The Offsite verification process by Shufti is characterized by its efficient and straightforward approach. In this, clients are responsible for gathering the necessary verification proofs/data from end users. This process streamlines the collection of essential data, enabling clients to submit it directly to Shufti effortlessly for verification. The verification results are conveniently accessible either via the comprehensive Back Office portal or can be readily retrieved through an API response. This flexibility ensures clients have efficient access to critical information.
2. Document Types Selection
ID Card: Following documents are accepted under ID Card for South Africa.
Green Barcoded ID Book
The older version of the South African ID contains a barcode and personal details in a handwritten style, making it more challenging to process automatically. This ID document was published from (1986-2013).
Smart ID Card
The modern ID card contains digital features such as a chip, and it is printed in a standardized format, making it more secure but also requiring advanced OCR to capture the embedded details. This ID document was published from (2013- present).
Driver's License: Driver's licenses are commonly used for identity verification, especially in sectors like transportation and employment. They contain basic security features such as barcodes and holograms, making them reliable for verification in lower-risk scenarios.
Passports: Passports are highly secure and typically used for international travel or high-security verification processes. They include biometric data, digital photographs, and other anti-fraud features, making them ideal for precise identity verification.
Credit/Debit Card: Credit/Debit cards are generally not recommended for identity verification due to their primary function as financial instruments rather than identification documents.
3. Document Type Preference
and Performance
Different types of South African identity documents yield varying success rates in verification:
Smart ID Card
South African Smart ID card’s strong security and clear design make it easier for Shufti to provide accurate and reliable verification, surpassing other systems.
Extraction Parameters: Name, date of birth, issue date, document number, expiry date, gender, nationality
Driver's License
South African driver's license is ideal for KYC due to its detailed data and security. Shufti’s OCR technology ensures high accuracy and conversion rates by efficiently processing its varied formats.
Extraction Parameters: Name, date of birth, issue date, document number, expiry date, face image, vehicle class
Green Barcoded ID Card
Green Barcode ID Card is recommended for KYC due to its detailed personal data and security features. Shufti achieves high conversion rates by accurately processing its barcode and information.
Extraction Parameters: Name, date of birth, issue date, document number
Passport
Passports are recommended for KYC due to its globally recognized format and secure features. Shufti delivers high conversion rates by accurately reading and verifying passport details through advanced OCR technology.
Extraction Parameters: Name, date of birth, issue date, document number, expiry date, gender, nationality
4. Preferred Document for Identity Verification
As Shufti, we recognize the South African Smart ID card, passport, and driver's license as the preferred documents for identity verification in South Africa. The Smart ID card, with its advanced security features and standardized format, is the leading choice, while the Passport is an excellent alternative for international verification. The driver's license is also a good option for those without their Smart ID card. Our advanced OCR technology is optimized to handle the unique features of these documents, ensuring fast and accurate data extraction for secure identity verification.
Verification Settings
1. Verification Mode (Onsite vs. Offsite)
Onsite verification is preferred in South Africa for its higher accuracy and better control over the verification process. This is crucial in a market where document fraud can be a concern. Onsite methods leverage biometric and AI-driven technologies to ensure the authenticity and reliability of the verification process.
2. Data Extraction
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is essential in South Africa to accurately extract data from identity documents, especially those issued in multiple languages like English and Portugese. Advanced OCR systems are required to handle the variations in text, security features, and regional formats. Additionally, OCR must efficiently process both old and new document types, such as Smart ID cards and green barcoded ID books, ensuring accurate data extraction across all formats.
3. Identity Document’s Backside Proof
In South Africa, while documents like the Smart ID card and driver's licenses often have essential details on the front side, the Smart ID card also contains important information such as the issue date and document number on the backside. To ensure a thorough verification process, merchants should enable the Backside Proof Required parameter. This ensures that all critical information is captured and verified, maintaining compliance with regulatory standards and preventing potential delays in the verification process.
4. Real-Time Proof Capture Vs. Proof Upload
South African identity documents can be verified through two flexible proof methods: real-time proof capture and proof upload, giving users the option to choose their preferred method based on convenience and accessibility.
Real-Time Proof Capture
With Shufti’s advanced auto-capture technology, capturing identity proofs in real-time ensures a smooth, efficient, and accurate verification process. This feature automatically detects the document and captures it without requiring user intervention, making it one of the fastest and most reliable options for verifying physical documents.
Proof Upload
Users also have the option to upload pre-captured images of the identity documents. The upload process is seamless, allowing documents to be verified hassle-free. This is ideal for users who already have pre-captured images of their identity documents and prefer a straightforward upload and verification process.
Merchants can enable Allow Online (real-time proof capture) and Allow Offline (proof upload) options available in the Verification setting tab. By offering both real-time capture and proof upload, Shufti ensures flexibility, providing the best user experience regardless of whether physical or electronic documents are being verified.
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