Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the the game-changing move by Home Affairs to make Smart ID and Passport applications available in the coming months on the banking apps of Capitec Bank, First National Bank (FNB), and Standard Bank.
This service will start with Smart ID and Passport services rolling out at selected branches of Standard Bank, Capitec and FNB, gradually expanding to more branches by early 2026, and marks the beginning of the end of notoriously long waits in Home Affairs queues.
This move will provide access to Home Affairs services for many rural South Africans, those who are struggling for opportunities, and poor South Africans who can’t afford transport to government offices and those with mobility challenges. This is real inclusion, and real pro-poor delivery, from a DA Minister.
By bringing deliveries of Smart IDs and passports directly to people’s home one step closer to reality the DA is demonstrating that it truly delivers.
This bold step forward in Minister Leon Schreiber’s digital transformation strategy – in partnership with banks – ultimately has the potential to alleviate long-standing bottlenecks, making Home Affairs services available at home, and keeping hundreds of thousand of people out of physical queues no matter where they live.
An Identity Document is the key to unlock access to opportunity. Opportunities like registering for student funding and bursaries, enrolling in public universities or TVET colleges, social grant applications and renewals, unemployment insurance fund claims and registration, applying for or renewing a driver’s licence or learner’s licence, and being able to apply for a job – all depend on easy access to an ID.
A Smart ID in the hands of every South African citizen will help grow the economy and create jobs – and now under Minister Leon Schreiber it will soon be as easy as going into a participating bank branch or opening a banking app on your phone. After that look out for a courier at your front door with your new document. It could not be easier.
This is the DA difference in government – modern technology, secure systems and ease of use for South Africans. The DA is keeping its promises.
Capitec, FNB and Standard Bank’s banking apps serve tens of millions of active users who will ultimately be taken out of Home Affairs queues. And for South Africans who don’t have a smart phone access to this improved service will be possible at 1000 more physical points of service by the end of 2029.
Home Affairs currently has 412 offices, with the medium-term aim of adding 1000 bank branches to this service network well on target.
This move doesn’t just remove queues—it gives all South Africans from every community and every demographic, dignified and equitable access to essential documentation.
We urge other banks to follow suit and join this digital transformation, helping to further the vision of no queues and better public service delivery across South Africa.
Regards
Adrian Roos MP
DA Spokesperson on Home Affairs