Home Affairs to be more accessible with eChannel
People will now be able to apply online for IDs and passports, and visit their local banks to give photos and fingerprints to be processed.
A NEW initiative by Home Affairs will enable South Africans to apply online for IDs and passports. The initiative, in partnership with the four major banks, ABSA, FNB, Nedbank and Standard Bank, will allow South Africans to visit their local banks to submit their photos and have their fingerprints processed for their applications. They will also be able to collect their IDs and passports at kiosks set up in the banks.
The eChannel Pilot Project was launched last Thursday by President Jacob Zuma in Midrand. The pilot project is being run in Gauteng and limited branches in Cape Town. The service is initially only available to 30 – 35-year-olds.
The department says the eChannel system will help to reduce long queues at its 140 offices throughout the country and make Home Affairs services more readily accessible.
Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba said South Africa is the first country to implement such a system. He added the department is engaged with the banks to find ways to expand e-Home Affairs service to all their clients.
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