Can I use Old Identity Numbers Issued Pre-1970's for Genealogy Research?

Between the 1950's and early 1970's Home Affairs assigned short identity numbers, which ended in a single letter to identify the race of a person to all South African nationals. These identity numbers were issued during a period of time when computers and computer systems did not exist.

Due to this, these old identity numbers were never digitized and there is no way Home Affairs today can use them to identify old individuals. These old identity numbers were never incorporated into the new Electronic Population Register.

Unfortunately, for purposes of Genealogy Research, these identity numbers cannot assist any researcher.