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.