Smart IDs: More than 4 000 have already applied online
To date the department has rolled out the online system to 11 bank branches
Since the launch of the Department of Home Affairs’ eHomeAffairs portal on April 7, just over 4 000 citizens have registered through this portal.
The eChannel allows for South Africans to start applying for Smart ID Cards and passports online. Only people aged 30-35 can currently use the system.
“Others will follow in due course, including
the holders of permanent residence permits as well as those that have
been naturalised,” Director-General of Home Affairs, Mkuseli Apleni, said on Wednesday.
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He said 4 088 citizens had registered through the portal, of which 140 online applications had been successfully concluded across the four banks involved. There are appointments booked up to the end of April.
“We trust that the new eHomeAffairs initiative will assist greatly to reduce long queues in front offices while accelerating the replacement of Green-barcoded ID books with Smart ID Cards. In this regard, we appeal to clients to bring along their ID books and required supporting documents. At the end of the day, we want to see better service for citizens and improved professionalism on our part,” Apleni said.
Another milestone has been the Memorandum of Understanding that the department has concluded with four major banks in South Africa – ABSA, First National Bank, Nedbank and Standard Bank. To date the department has rolled out the online system to 11 bank branches in Pretoria, Centurion, Johannesburg, Rosebank, Roodepoort, Rivonea and Cape Town.
“We are satisfied that the online system is functioning well, with clients appreciating its efficiency and the short time they have to spend in the banks for capturing of biometrics. Those who experience challenges during the application process should not contact the banks but should instead contact the Home Affairs Toll Free number on 0800 60 11 90,” Apleni added.
“We rely on a throttling mechanism which currently allows for 600 concurrent hits. When this limit is reached, applicants get a re-direct page indicating that the system is experiencing higher volumes, and at that point applicants are accordingly advised to retry.
Given that for now the focus is largely on Gauteng and the Canal Walk in the Western Cape, the department appeals to citizens outside these areas not to use the facility until further notice.
