Identification Act, 1997 (Act No. 68 of 1997)Chapter 3 : Identity Card17. Proof of identity |
| (1) | An authorised officer as defined in subsection (3) may at any time request any person reasonably presumed to have attained the age of 16 years to prove his or her identity to that officer by the production of his or her identity card as defined in subsection (4). |
| (2) | If it comes to the attention of an officer acting in the service of the Department of Home Affairs that a person referred to in section 3 who has attained the age of 16 years has not complied with the provisions of section 15(1), that officer shall take the prescribed steps to ensure that that person applies without delay for an identity card in terms of this Act. |
| (3) | For the purposes of this section "authorised officer" means— |
| (a) | a peace officer as defined in section 1 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act No. 51 of 1977); or |
| (b) | a person, or a member of a category of persons, designated by the Minister by notice in the Gazette, and who for the purpose of this section shall be deemed to be such a peace officer. |
| (4) | For the purposes of subsection (1) "identity card" includes any other proof of identity issued by the State and on which the name and a photograph of the holder appear. |