SAFIRE has its first few formal signatories to the new Participation Agreement, ushering in the next phase of the South African Identity Federation. Stellenbosch University became the first university (and identity provider) to sign, and the Square Kilometer Array South Africa became the first major South African service provider. In addition, Kivuto Inc became the first non-South African organisation to join as a service provider. We welcome all three to SAFIRE, and the start of what we hope is a long and fruitful relationship.

We’re working with these and other potential participants to complete the technical requirements for the transition to a hub-and-spoke architecture. We’re also eagerly awaiting the release of our HSMs from customs, which will allow us to complete the generation of metadata signing keys. Hopefully all of this will be completed within the next few weeks.