Biometrics for SA airports? What you need to know…

There could be a new way to board flights in South Africa sometime soon. Photo: ar130405 / pixabay

South Africa is reportedly among the many countries planning to implement biometrics at airports in the near future.

There could be a new way to board flights in South Africa sometime soon. Photo: ar130405 / pixabay

Biometric security systems in airports seems to be forging ahead throughout the world, with countries like Singapore, UK, US, Brazil and now South Africa planning to implement the technology at airports.

African digital trendsetters

According to the website Biometric Update, Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) is considering investing R100 million to become among the first African organisations to initiate digital identification verification technology at airports.

Acsa CIO and Chairperson of the Public Sector ICT Forum, Mthoko Mncwabe, addressed the plans in a recently held forum.

“The technology will be based on digital identity tokens to allow airport customers to enter the airport and automatically go through all the necessary processes without having to spend time on constantly presenting their flight and ID documents.” he said.

What kind of biometrics are to be used?

Facial Recognition Systems are currently one of the types of biometrics being used at airports. Photo: Tumisu / pixabay

According to Travel News, there are four types of biometric technologies that are used in airports at present.

1. Facial Recognition Systems – which identify and store facial features. This type of system is contactless, more secure and easy to integrate.
2. Fingerprint Recognition Systems – which are able to automatically identify a person based on their stored and live fingerprint.
3. The Iris Recognition System – which uses infrared light to take a high contrast image of the person’s iris (eye). This system is also contactless and is considered to be the most accurate in identifying an individual.
4. Palm Recognition System – which uses a scanning device that processes data from a digital photo of an individual’s hand and compares it to the stored biometric template in the database.

A biometric system was reportedly already in development for the Department of Home Affairs as of January 2022. This biometric-based digital identity system, called NIS, is expected to be ready for use by March 2024 and will go a long way in enhancing access to a variety of services for South African citizens.

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Sundeeka Mungroo

Sundeeka Mungroo is a content writer, foodie and all-round adventure-seeker. She's a graduate of the University of South Africa with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature, and has worked as a copywriter and editor in the digital marketing industry. Sundeeka currently writes for I Love South Africa and The South African. She lives in the beautiful Mother City and loves exploring all that South Africa has to offer.