Amidst the evolution of the digital identity landscape, this research investigates the necessity and distinctiveness of Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) as compared to preceding identity models. Propelled by escalating privacy concerns pose a contentious challenge of reconciling unique identification with information concealment, the paper underscores the urgency to decentralise user data from monopolistic social media enterprises. This decentralisation is aimed at maintaining an online presence without jeopardising real-world identities, thereby offering the advantages of previous systems without intrusive tracking. Drawing parallels with the adage, "data is the new oil," the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for reformed access management, particularly in South Africa. Existing measures, such as pre-entry forms, while essential for health and safety, infringe upon personal data privacy. The exploration into developing an SSI solution, while promising, illuminated its infancy. Interoperability challenges abound, requiring universal acceptance of standardised credential templates. Despite the touted benefits of SSI, the present business model's reliance on personal data for operations and advertising hinders its widespread adoption. The research suggests that rather than merely integrating enhanced security adapters, a fundamental shift in the business model is recommended. Engaging with tools to instantiate SSI solutions revealed gaps in documentation and support, compounded by ambiguous architectural protocols. While the move towards open-source models is commendable, the ease-of-use of higher-level abstracted, reusable technical components by third-party tools and libraries provide an easier work around for some of these challenging steps for setup and implementation. In summation, the research provides context to the journey of utilising SSI tools, advocating for simpler and clearer technical documentation, aligning directly to the principles and philosophies of SSI ensuring trust, and transparency in the digital identity sphere.