‘Do it yourself’? Self-service passports for South Africa

The Department of Home Affairs recently unveiled plans to introduce a self-service system for South Africans to easily get their passports and ID’s.

Self-service kiosks for South Africa?

During his budget speech last week, Home Affairs Deputy Minister, Njabulo Nzuza, announced the departments plans to introduce self-service kiosks for passports, smart card ID’s and other identity documentation. 

Nzuza said that the 2022/2023 budget will see the department investigating ways to better service citizens, by way of procuring kiosks that will allow them to use self-service systems for passports and smart ID applications. These kiosks will apparently also be able to reprint birth, marriage and death certificates.  

He also said that the kiosks will be designed in a way that will require authentication through biometrics and will be located in strategic areas to allow access even after office hours or on weekends. 

The department plans to introduce the proposed kiosk system during the 2022/2023 financial year. 

Passports at shopping malls also coming to South Africa

South African citizens could also soon apply for ID’s and passports at shopping malls around the country, according to Home Affairs Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi.

Motsoaledi revealed the department’s plans to branch out when he also presented his budget for the 2022/23 financial year last week. Motsoaledi said that in an effort to reduce long queues at their branches, they had been engaging several malls in the country. 

“Operating Home Affairs offices at malls will obviate the problem of queuing in the sun or rain.” he said.

“We shall start with Menlyn mall in Pretoria, Cresta mall and Southgate mall in Johannesburg, the Pavillion in Ethekwini and Tygervalley mall in Cape Town,” Motsoaledi added.

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