In the quest for convenience, South Africans have long awaited a more straightforward way to apply for and receive their Smart IDs and passports. Currently, this service is limited to just 30 branches across central banks, but change is on the horizon.
A Pilot Program Poised for Expansion
After a successful pilot program, the Department of Home Affairs is gearing up to expand these services. With the pilot set to conclude by March 2024, the Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, has shared promising news. Backed by The Banking Association of South Africa, 40 bank branches are preparing to join this innovative venture.
Eight Years of Progressive Service
Since its inception in 2015, the eHome Affairs pilot with banks has transformed how South Africans interact with government services. By allowing banking customers to book appointments and process documents digitally, the need to visit a Home Affairs office is becoming a thing of the past.
The Impact So Far
With over 3.5 million South Africans already utilizing these services through the bank branch system, the program’s effectiveness is clear. The initial plan was to add 43 new branches by March 2023. Despite delays and an extension to September 2023, the commitment to expand remains unwavering.
Branch Breakdown: A Closer Look
- Standard Bank: 9 branches
- FNB: 7 branches
- Absa: 6 branches
- Nedbank: 6 branches
- Investec Bank: 1 branch
- Discovery Bank: 1 branch
As we anticipate the full rollout of this program, one can’t help but wonder: How will this change the landscape of governmental services in South Africa? Are we looking at a new era of convenience and efficiency?
Standard Bank
| Bank | Address | Contact Number |
| Standard Bank Kathu Mall | Shop 62 Village Walk Shopping Centre Kathu, Hendrik Van Eck Street, Postmasburg | 053 723 9610 |
| Standard Bank Centurion | Cnr Lenchen and Old Johannesburg Rd Centurion Lifestyle Centre | 012 671 4042 |
| Standard Bank Killarney Mall | Killarney Mall, Riviera Rd, Killarney, Johannesburg | 011 486 0002 |
| Standard Bank Kingsmead | 1 Kingsmead Way, Durban | 031 308 7900 |
| Standard Bank Jubilee Mall | Shop no. 47 Jubilee Mall corner Jubliee and Harry Gwala Road Temba Hammanskraal | 011 351 7814 |
| Standard Bank Canal Walk | Shop 599, Upper Level, Canal Walk Shopping Center, Century Blvd, Century City | 021 529 8216 |
| Standard Bank Mitchell’s Plain Promenade | Corner AZ Berman Road And Morgenster Road, Mitchell’s Plain | 0860 123 000 |
| Standard Bank Simmonds Street | 5 Simmonds St, Selby, Johannesburg. | 011 631 1624 / 011 639 4205 |
| Standard Bank Newton Park | 1 Pickering St Newton Park Port Elizabeth | 041 404 8319 |
FNB
| Bank | Address | Contact Number |
| FNB Burgersfort | Shop 55 Twin City Complex Dirk Winterbach Street Burgersfort | 072 457 8619 / 013 216 0098 |
| FNB Centurion Lifestyle Centre | Cnr Lenchen and Old Johannesburg Rd Centurion Lifestyle Centre Centurion | 066 460 0530 / 012 653 2661 |
| FNB Cornubia | Shop U56, Cornubia Boulevard, Cnr N2 Highway & M41, Durban | 031 308 7900 |
| FNB Glen Shopping Centre | Shop U2, The Glen Shopping Centre, Glenvista | 061 495 4441 |
| FNB Greenpoint | Shop 1 & 2, ERF 176300, Media Quarter, Somerset Road, Greenpoint | 087 345 6090 |
| FNB Lynwood | Shop L04 Upper-level Cnr Simon Vermooten & Lynnwood Rd Equestria Pretoria | 066 460 0130 |
| FNB Merchant Place | 4 Merchant Place c/o Rivonia and Freedman Dr Sandton | 066 290 3307 |
Nedbank
| Bank | Address | Contact Number |
| Nedbank Arcadia | Shop 25, Nedbank Plaza, Beatrix Street, Arcadia | 066 460 0122 |
| Nedbank Constantia Kloof | 16 Constantia Boulevard Constantia Kloof Roodepoort | 011 639 4208 |
| Nedbank Nelspruit | Shop 65 The Crossing Shopping Centre c/o Samora Machel and Madiba Drive Nelspruit | 081 336 5941 |
| Nedbank Rivonia | 135 Rivonia Road, Sandown, Sandton | 066 290 3257 |
| Nedbank St George’s Mall | Shop 3 The Box, St Georges Mall c/o Riebeeck Street | 0800 555 111 |
| Nedbank Durban North | 57 Adelaide Tambo Dr, Durban North, 4051 | 0800 555 111 |
Absa
| Bank | Address | Contact Number |
| Absa Centurion Lifestyle Centre | Shop 36 c/o Lenchen and Old Johannesburg Road Centurion Lifestyle Centre Centurion | 066 460 0356 |
| Absa Key West Krugersdorp | Shop 80 Key West Shopping Centre cnr Paardekraal Drive and Viljoen Street Krugersdorp | 079 900 6457 |
| Absa Sandton City | Cnr Rivonia Road and 5th Street Sandton | 066 290 3314 |
| Absa Port Elizabeth | 682 Cnr. Bagshaw & Govan Mbeki Avenue, Port Elizabeth | 041 404 8319 |
| Absa Stellenbosch | Oude Bloemhof Building, Cnr Plein And Ryneveld Streets, Stellenbosch | 021 809 2311 |
| Absa Towers | Cnr Commissioner And Troye Streets, Johannesburg | 011 350 4111 |
Other banks
| Bank | Address | Contact Number |
| Discovery Bank Head Office | 1 Discovery Place, c/o Rivonia Road and Katherine Street, Sandton | 0860 998 877 |
| Investec Bank Sandown | 100 Grayston Dr Sandown Sandton | 011 286 7000 |