SOUTH AFRICA – The Department of Home Affairs has announced a major expansion of its Digital Partnership Model, with Absa officially going live to provide digital Smart ID services to South African citizens. This integration marks Absa as the fourth major financial institution to offer the secure identification service, joining Capitec, Standard Bank, and First National Bank in a growing network of 296 participating bank branches nationwide.
The rollout introduces immediate access to Home Affairs Smart ID services at 12 designated Absa branches, with an additional 60 Absa branches scheduled to become operational before the end of 2026. Beyond fixed locations, Absa will also deploy an innovative mobile service component titled “Bank on the Move.” This initiative is designed to extend secure Home Affairs services to broader communities, with comprehensive details expected to be unveiled during the official rollout event.
The expansion addresses a growing public demand for convenient, digitally enabled alternatives to the fraud-prone green barcoded ID book, transitioning citizens toward the more secure Smart ID Card. To date, the Digital Partnership has successfully processed more than 385,000 Smart ID applications.
Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber highlighted the rapid adoption of the service as a validation of the department’s modernization strategy.
“The rapid expansion of our Digital Partnership with the banking sector demonstrates the success of our vision to fundamentally transform Home Affairs service delivery through digital innovation,” Dr Schreiber stated. “Processing more than 385,000 Smart ID applications in just four months demonstrates that South Africans are embracing a faster, more secure and more convenient way of accessing Home Affairs services.”
Dr Schreiber further outlined that the initiative falls under the broader “Home Affairs @ home” reform programme. This strategic framework aims to expand the Digital Partnership to 750 participating bank branches by the end of the year. Coupled with mobile innovations like “Bank on the Move,” the programme is designed to bring secure and dignified access to Smart ID services closer to where citizens live and work.
