The Department of Home affairs is partnering with banks to roll out smart ID cards across South Africa.
With 38-million green ID books set to be replaced with smart ID card within the next five years, banks are coming on board to get them into people’s hands.
Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba today launched a pilot project, initially with two FNB and Standard Bank branches, with a Nedbank site set to go live during the month.
The plan is for citizens to apply and pay for the smart ID cards on a Home Affairs web portal and then collect them at the bank branch.
If the pilot is successful, the project will be rolled out to additional branches early next year.
At the same time, Home Affairs plans to convert 38 of its offices for smart ID card applications.