Skip Home Affairs Queues At These 30 Bank Branches In Sa

The Department of Home Affairs DHA in South Africa is intensifying its initiative to replace the outdated green ID books with more secure smart ID cards. To facilitate this transition, the DHA has partnered with various banks to offer smart ID and passport services at select bank branches.

Currently, there are 30 bank branches across South Africa where individuals can apply for or renew their smart ID cards and passports. These services are available to South African citizens, naturalised citizens and permanent residents.

The limited expansion of these services has been attributed to the minimal direct benefits for banks and concerns over service quality. In response, banks have sought greater involvement in the eHomeAffairs platform. An online system that helps South Africans apply for smart IDs and passports without going to a government office. After applying online, you can go to a participating bank to finish the process and pick up your documents.

The Banking Association of South Africa BASA has successfully negotiated an agreement with the DHA, granting banks more control over the platforms operations.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has acknowledged the need for broader access to these services. He envisions a significant increase in participating bank branches, aiming for availability in every village, town, city, and suburb across South Africa. This expansion is expected to alleviate pressure on DHA offices and reduce long queues, explains MyBroadband.