The Department of Home Affairs is urging South Africans who still need their identity documents to apply now in preparation for the upcoming Local Government Elections on November 4.

The department has pleaded with the citizens who have not yet collected their IDs to do so as soon as possible.

The department stated that citizens who still need to replace a lost or damaged identity document ahead of the elections are urged to use Home Affairs offices or the more than 450 participating bank branches to obtain their documents, rather than waiting until the last minute.

The department advised the public to visit myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za to find their nearest participating bank branch.

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Home Affairs is further calling on citizens who already have their identity documents to encourage family members, friends and colleagues who do not yet have a Smart ID to apply now and collect their documents ahead of the elections.

Minister Leon Schreiber said that a valid ID document is key to democratic participation in the upcoming elections.

“Home Affairs has dramatically expanded access to this critical service by rolling out digitalised Smart ID services at over 450 bank branches in just five months.

“I call upon South Africans to make use of our vastly improved services to apply for – and collect – their IDs without delay.”

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