In an elaborate ceremony, the president used a smart card, password and thumb print to apply a digital signature to the Bill – despite the fact that his physical signature was still required. Digital signatures only became legally recognised after the law was enacted, making the public ceremony purely symbolic.

The process also served to showcase the Post Office technology used to conduct it. The president was issued the smart card carrying a 4096-bit key by Post Office chairman Badirileng Mokone, after she duly identified him face to face.

To “oohs” and “aahs” from the audience, a Windows application aptly named ApproveIT produced a graphic equivalent of Mbeki's signature on cue.

The signing “brings the dawn of a new era” by promoting e-government and encouraging investment and innovation in the technology sector, said Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri.

The presidential legal advisors had examined the law and “did not find anything they think unconstitutional or problematic” in it, she said to questions on possible legal challenges to it. “We see ourselves working together with those with differences in future.”

Although the new Act officially comes into effect with its publication in the Government Gazette, its more controversial sections will not immediately be implemented, says Andile Ngcaba, director-general of the Department of Communications.

“We will publish a schedule in about one week and there will be a window for registration,” he said, referring to a requirement that all cryptography service providers register with his department. Other provisions will equally have to wait on relevant structures and organisations to be established.

However, the department says it has every intention of moving quickly to introduce everything required. Ngcaba expects a call for nominations to the board of a new domain authority, which is to take over administration of the .za domain, to be published at the weekend. Also, online systems for cryptography and authentication service providers to register with government are under development and should be launched soon.

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