CAPE TOWN: South Africa plans to expand an initiative that has seen its smart ID cards issued through banks. Home Affairs plans to expand its Smart ID Card applications at bank branches by the end of October, following the success of a pilot project, Minister Malusi Gigaba said on Wednesday.
Talks have already been launched with the country’s biggest four banks – Absa, Standard Bank, First National Bank and Nedbank – to expand the programme. Gigaba said the project cut down on queues at Home Affairs offices, flushed out people with forged IDs, and allowed banks to reduce document fraud with their link to the Home Affairs database.
The eHome Affairs project also offers passport applications at the participating banks. The only service it cannot offer at present is first-time identity document applications. These still have to be done at a Home Affairs office. Currently banks do not charge for the service, but could do so in future.
The DHA has also officially opened its eHomeAffairs portal to the public at large, enabling all South African citizens to apply for their Smart ID cards and passports online. DHA initially launched the portal in April, inviting citizens between the ages of 30 and 35 to be the first to apply for Smart IDs online.
