Update: 9 July
As previously reported, South Africa’s outdated green ID books will soon be a thing of the past, as the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) pushes forward with its ambitious Smart ID and passport overhaul.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced the shift during his budget vote speech on Tuesday, revealing plans to stop issuing the fraud-prone green documents by the end of the year, as reported by BusinessTech.
The move comes as the department reports record-breaking Smart ID issuances, nearly 3.6 million in the past financial year, while expanding access to naturalised citizens and permanent residents. Schreiber emphasised that the green ID book, a relic of the past, is 500% more vulnerable to fraud than the secure, chip-enabled Smart ID.
Banks, apps, and home delivery: The future of IDs
To speed up the transition, the DHA is deepening its partnership with South African banks. After a successful pilot, at least 100 additional bank branches will soon offer Smart ID and passport services. This is why the department has set a longer-term goal of enabling Smart ID services at 1,000 bank branches over the next three years.
The next phase will allow citizens to order IDs directly through banking apps, similar to buying airtime or electricity.
Even more groundbreaking, the department plans to introduce home delivery for Smart IDs and passports, using facial recognition to verify identities securely.
This innovation aims to eliminate long queues at Home Affairs offices, many of which still lack Smart ID capabilities.
This is why it has the longer-term goal of having the capability at 1,000 branches over the next three years.
Global expansion for South Africans abroad
The Smart ID revolution isn’t just for locals. Frustrated, displaced South Africans who typically wait over a year for documents can soon expect processing in just five weeks, thanks to new facilities launching in Australia, New Zealand and the UAE by July. Europe and North America will follow later.
Schreiber’s ultimate goal is a national digital ID system, integrating government and private services like banking. A draft policy will soon go to Cabinet, paving the way for public consultations.
With green ID books on their way out, South Africa is stepping firmly into a fraud-resistant, digital future, one Smart ID at a time.
At present, there are approximately 30 bank branches across the country, from which South Africans can receive a new passport or smart ID while avoiding a visit to their relevant Home Affairs branch, reports Cape {town} Etc.
The collaboration with specific branches stems from systemic issues with Home Affairs, such as long queues, unreliable systems and poor customer service.
According to BusinessTech, the eHome Affairs pilot was launched by the Department of Home Affairs in 2015 and the system allows for banks to provide an alternative channel for accessing the department.
Reportedly, the department’s employees use the system to render the service, which allows banking customers to book appointments on the digital platform and apply for both smart IDs and passports online.
The system may be utilised once customers have provided their biometric information, such as a photograph and relevant fingerprints, to their bank branch. These details as well as other personal information which is provided online, allow customers to access the online service.
Once the new identity documents are available, customers are alerted and may accordingly pick up the documents at their bank branch.
The Department of Home Affairs has outlined a list of bank branches where these services are available.
The list includes 30 bank branches, namely:
- Standard Bank Canal Walk
- Standard Bank Centurion
- Standard Bank Jubilee Mall
- Standard Bank Kathu Mall
- Standard Bank Killarney Mall
- Standard Bank Kingsmead
- Standard Bank Mitchell’s Plain Promenade
- Standard Bank Newton Park
- Standard Bank Simmonds Street
- FNB Burgersfort
- FNB Centurion Lifestyle Centre
- FNB Cornubia
- FNB Glen Shopping Centre
- FNB Greenpoint
- FNB Lynwood
- FNB Merchant Place
- Nedbank Arcadia
- Nedbank Constantia Kloof
- Nedbank Durban North
- Nedbank Nelspruit
- Nedbank Rivonia
- Nedbank St George’s Mall
- Absa Centurion Lifestyle Centre
- Absa Key West Krugersdorp
- Absa Port Elizabeth
- Absa Sandton City
- Absa Stellenbosch
- Absa Towers
- Discovery Bank Head Office
- Investec Bank Sandown
It has been alleged that the department intends to expand this project and incorporate many more bank branches into the system.
The department further intends to make this service available in all provinces of the country, as this is currently not the case, with the service not being available in the Free State or the North West.
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Picture: Foto24 / Herman Verwey / Gallo Images
