New ID smartcard now available at selected banks

The new ID smartcards are now accessible at your nearest FNB and Standard Bank after it was officially launched by the Department of Home Affairs on Wednesday, 30 September.

There are special Home Affairs facilities set up inside the branches and you will only be required to get your smartcards from the bank if you are a customer of that bank.

Local residents have already got their smartcards and say it was relatively easy to apply.

Reon George from Florida Lake said after he applied for his ID smartcard at the Roodepoort Home Affairs, he did not pay for it and it only took a week for him before he could fetch it.

“I thought I was going to wait longer for my new ID so I was quite surprised when I could fetch it within a week,” Reon said.

Although another local resident also waited a week for her smartcard, she was left disappointed after she had to pay for it.

“Because I wanted to change my surname after I go married in June, I did not understand why I had to pay R140 for my ID smartcard as well as additional costs for my photos,” she said Staceylee Ann Mudaly from Witpoortjie.

She added that she thinks people should not be required to pay for it.

“Even though it is easier to carry around, I still think it can easily get stolen from your wallet,” she said.

All applications for the smartcards are paperwork free and applications are processed on the spot.

After you apply, Home Affairs will send you an SMS a few days later to notify you that your card is ready, and you will have to return to the bank branch you applied at to pick it up.

For more information, visit your nearest FNB, Standard Bank or Home Affairs branch.

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