Last week, we learned that Absa had taken its first steps in fulfilling the prophecy set out by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). The bank officially added twelve more Smart ID-capable branches to the ever-growing list and, at the same time, confirmed the country’s first-ever ‘bank-based Home Affairs mobile unit’. The DHA and Absa came together in Tembisa to officially launch the mobile units today, which travel around on small trucks.
Smart IDs, anywhere
“Absa becomes the fourth banking partner to join the Department’s Digital Partnership, with the new mobile unit set to bring secure Smart ID services directly to remote, peri-urban, and previously underserved communities,” the DHA wrote. “The initiative is aimed at extending access to Home Affairs’ digital services beyond traditional departmental offices.”
Before Home Affairs implemented the Digital Partnership back in August, Smart ID-enabled bank branches were few and far between. This meant residents were often forced to visit their local Home Affairs office to get a Smart ID, an oftentimes costly and arduous venture. In the months since, South Africa has more than doubled the number of Smart ID-enabled branches around the country, with the help of Capitec, FNB, and Standard Bank.
And now, Absa. The bank hopes to add another 60 such branches to the list before the year is out. As for Absa’s new mobile units, these are designed to travel ’round to less-privileged areas of the country to offer its Smart ID services. Wherever one may be located, the bank says customers can apply for a Smart ID, complete biometric enrolment and collect their Smart ID within a secure banking environment, all “without leaving the mall.”
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It’s unclear at the time of writing how many mobile units Absa has in its fleet, or whether it plans on adding any more down the line. It’s safe to assume that the bank will expand eventually if it receives positive feedback in the coming months. These join the DHA’s 210 mobile units already in operation, according to The South African.
Each unit is equipped with three consultant booths, a shielded cubicle to carry out Smart ID applications, and an ATM. It follows a very similar process to that of applying for a Smart ID at a physical branch. Absa reckons applications won’t take longer than five minutes, and requires no paperwork thanks to the digital interface. It’s worth noting that these units will not carry cash in transit, and will only be loaded at their destination.
“This is the fastest expansion of access to Home Affairs services since the dawn of democracy, with the Digital Partnership already adding more Smart ID service points than the entire modernised Home Affairs network that existed when the reform programme began,” said DHA minister, Leon Schreiber.
