More banks join Home Affairs’ digital drive for IDs and passports
The Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, has announced that two more banks have signed up to join the Department’s digital partnership to offer Smart ID and passport services
Image: Ayanda Ndamane Independent Newspapers
The Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, has announced that two more banks have signed up to join the Department’s digital partnership to offer Smart ID and passport services, further expanding access for South Africans across the country.
IOL previously reported that Home Affairs had teamed up with Capitec and FNB to offer these services at hundreds of bank branches across the country.
Schreiber revealed that he had also extended an invitation to the CEOs of other major banks, including ABSA, Discovery Bank, Standard Bank, and others, to join the initiative and help broaden access even further.
According to the department, more banks have now joined the partnership, including ABSA, Discovery Bank, and Standard Bank, bringing the total number of participating banks to five.
"Capitec, First National Bank, Standard Bank, ABSA Bank, Discovery Bank. We anticipate that over 840 bank branches will provide Smart ID and Passport services nationwide within 12 months." Ministerial spokesperson Duwayne Esau said.
However, while the move has been welcomed by many, some critics have raised concerns about the cost and efficiency of the expanded service delivery model.
How much is it costing taxpayers?
The Department of Home Affairs has moved to allay these fears, with Esau saying that the rollout will not cost taxpayers extra and is fully funded by fees paid by participating banks.
"Zero. Home Affairs has upgraded the Online Verification Service (OVS) that is already used by the financial sector to verify the identity of clients," Esau said.
"And has adjusted the fees that the private sector pays to use this service in order to fund maintenance into the future without burdening taxpayers. The same OVS system forms the backbone for rolling out biometrically-secured access points to process Smart ID and Passport applications without human intervention in many more bank branches and on digital apps".
Esau also noted that the previous model offered limited access in rural and underserved areas, with only 218 Home Affairs offices and 30 bank branches, mostly in urban centres.
"There were only 218 Home Affairs offices and 30 bank branches in the whole country, mostly in urban areas, that provided Smart ID and Passport services.
"Through this digital reform, that total number will grow by over 300% to over 1,000 service points located in Home Affairs offices and bank branches across the length and breadth of South Africa, with a focus on rural and underserved communities"
mthobisi.nozulela@iol.co.za
IOL Business