The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the launch of the Department of Home Affairs’ new Digital Partnership Model with South Africa’s banking sector, which has officially gone live today, 09 March 2026, with the Capitec branch in Howick among the first in the country to offer these services.
This means that residents of Howick and the wider uMngeni community are now among the very first South Africans to benefit from what is undoubtedly the greatest innovation leap forward in the history of the Department of Home Affairs.
Under the leadership of DA Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, the Department is embracing digital transformation to bring services closer to communities, reduce long queues, and modernise how citizens access essential government services.
The first phase of this rollout enables residents to:
• convert the green ID book to the Smart ID Card, including qualifying naturalised citizens and permanent residents; and
• apply for re-issues of existing Smart ID Cards.
These services are provided to clients of participating banks. For example, the Capitec branch in Howick will serve Capitec clients who wish to access these services through the bank’s digital Home Affairs service platform. This will help alleviate pressure on the queues at the current Home Affairs mobile office.
Residents who wish to find participating bank branches can view the full and continuously updated list at:https://www.dha.gov.za/banks)
For millions of South Africans who still rely on the outdated green ID book, this initiative represents an important step towards a more secure and modern identity system, while making services faster and more accessible.
The DA is proud that this reform, driven under the leadership of a DA Minister, is delivering real improvements in people’s everyday lives and ensuring that government services are efficient, accessible, and dignified.
Residents across uMngeni and the greater Midlands who still hold the green ID book, or who require a Smart ID re-issue, are encouraged to make use of this new service now available locally.