Bad news about getting your passport or Smart ID at a bank branch

The Banking Association South Africa (BASA) said the deal with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to extend the rollout of Home Affairs services through bank branches has not been finalised yet.

Last month, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) presented its Strategic Plan through 2030, which includes ambitious targets for the rollout of home affairs services at bank branches.

The department set a target of 1,000 bank branches equipped with the DHA’s live capture systems by the end of the 2027/28 financial year, 100 of which will be in 2025/26.

This is premised on the rollout of a new live capture system model, which the department hopes will accelerate the adoption of Smart IDs in the country.

As part of its 2025/26 plans, the DHA wants to add 100 bank branches with live-capture technology starting in the third quarter.

It plans to add 40 bank branches between October and December 2025 and 60 branches between January and March 2026.

In the immediate term, the DHA will spend the next three months developing and integrating the systems into the various offices.

The plan is ambitious, considering South Africa has been frozen at around 30 bank branches during the perennially extended pilot programme.

Over the medium term, the department wants to roll out this live capture system to another 900 bank branches. It includes 400 additional branches in 2026/27 and 500 branches in 2027/28.

“We are of the view that as we work with the current banks that are there and expand the footprint, we should be able to add this functionality by 1,000 bank branches,” the DHA said.

With a rollout to 1,000 branches, the DHA would have about 40% coverage among South African banks.

This news has been met with optimism by South Africans who dread visiting a Department of Home Affairs branch due to poor service levels and long queues.

However, the Banking Association South Africa warned that the rollout of home affairs services at additional bank branches is not a done deal.

It said it remains committed to working with the department to extend the rollout of Home Affairs services through bank branches.

Participating banks will supply most of the technology. However, they rely on DHA infrastructure to request identity cards and passports be issued by the department.

“Presently, there is a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between participating banks and the DHA that provides for DHA staff to be seconded to bank branches,” the BASA said.

“To expand the services, this MoU must be changed into an agreement to transfer the responsibility for staffing to participating banks.”

This agreement will improve service levels and release much-needed capacity back to the Department of Home Affairs.

“While there have been ongoing engagements between BASA and the DHA, the agreement has yet to be finalised,” it said.

“BASA remains available to the Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, to resolve the outstanding matters and assist him in meeting the targets DHA has for the rollout of the services.”