Home Affairs brings expanded Smart ID services closer to Thembisa residents

Residents of Thembisa will have easier access to Home Affairs services following the launch of an expanded Smart ID service at Mall of Thembisa on July 22.

The initiative, a partnership between ABSA Personal and Private Banking and the Department of Home Affairs, aims to bring critical documentation services closer to South Africans, particularly those living in remote and underserviced communities.

During the launch, Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber said the initiative forms part of efforts to modernise Home Affairs services and move away from the traditional green identity documents.

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He said the introduction of Smart ID services was driven by the need to provide citizens with a faster, more secure way to replace identity documents while reducing the risks associated with the old green ID books.

Previously, the department had 329 physical offices across South Africa, of which 214 had been modernised to provide Smart ID services due to financial constraints.

Through a digital partnership with the banking sector, launched on March 9, the number of access points has increased to 541 locations, including 327 bank branches, according to the department.

Schreiber said the expansion represented one of the fastest increases in access to Home Affairs services since the dawn of democracy.

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“This is a new era of government and Home Affairs service delivery. The biggest issue with the green books was that they were vulnerable to crime because they contained a photograph that could be manipulated,” he said.

“The Smart ID is a much more secure document. During the application process, there is no space for human manipulation or discretion. Citizens can visit branches offering this service, scan their fingerprints and have their identity verified against the population register.”

He added that the biometric verification process helps prevent identity fraud by ensuring that applicants are correctly identified.

ABSA Chief Executive Sitoyo Lopokoiyit said the partnership demonstrates the bank’s commitment to improving access to services that impact people’s daily lives.

“This partnership shows that purpose is at the heart of what ABSA does. This service is about giving dignity to our customers,” he said.

“An identity document allows people to access financial services, participate in elections, write matric examinations and access many other opportunities.”

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Thembisa resident and local taxi association spokesperson, Noah Moleya, welcomed the initiative, saying it would make it easier for residents to access services.

“I am happy to see these developments. It is going to make life much easier and also help our businesses because we can assist elderly residents with transport to nearby malls when they need to replace their IDs,” he said.

Looking ahead, the Department of Home Affairs plans to expand the service to include adult and minor passport applications through the same platforms, as well as secure courier delivery of Smart ID cards to residents.

The service is available through ABSA’s digital channels, including its app, and is integrated with banking Know Your Customer (KYC) verification processes.