The Department of Home Affairs has stated that it has expanded its partnership with the banking sector, with 203 bank branches now offering Smart ID card replacement services nationwide. Minister Leon Schreiber said the rollout has significantly improved access, increasing availability of Smart ID services by 73% within just three months.
He explained the initiative is part of efforts to phase out the green barcoded ID book while also strengthening identity security and reducing cases of identity fraud. The department has set a target of expanding the service to 750 bank branches by the end of the year.
“Reaching these milestones in a little over three months since the launch of this project is a remarkable achievement and a powerful demonstration of the progress that we are making through our Home Affairs at Home reform programme,” said Schreiber.
He added that access to Smart ID services is now closer to citizens than ever before, with further expansion still planned. “Smart ID replacement services are now closer to all South Africans than ever before. In the context of this spectacular progress, I’m excited to share that there is much more still to come,” he said.
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