Gigaba and the department’s director general, Mkhuseli Apleni, visited Standard Bank and First National Bank head offices on Wednesday in Johannesburg to check on progress by the two institutions.
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Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba’s spokesperson, Mayihlome Tshwete explained that the planned goal was to ease the process of applying for your ID. After completing the online application, you will go into the branch where your photo and fingerprints will be captured digitally.
The Department has signed memoranda of understanding with FNB, Standard Bank, ABSA, and Nedbank, and is working on expanding the pilot to other banks once the technical issues holding it up have been sorted out. The system was being tested through issuing the cards to employees first before it could be opened for bank clients.
Gigaba was at the unveiling, doing walk-abouts in both centres, where Home Affairs officials were conducting actual processes.
FNB CEO Jaqcues Cilliers said the process was easier as the employees were easily identified by the bank’s system.
The department said it doesn’t have an exact time frame for opening the process up to the public, but it did say that once it’s satisfied with the system’s operation smooth running, the public can begin applications.
Gigaba said South Africans will soon also be able to apply for passports at their banks.
“We would not have such capacity as the banks, so this is helping the department in sharing this national responsibility”.
“It will be piloted at two locations per bank”.
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Since the announcement of the Smart ID in South Africa, I have been itching to get one.
