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Home Affairs plans to issue passports through commercial banks

Source: Cape Talk, 01/10/2015


The Department of Home Affairs has announced the start of a new pilot
project to issue passports through banks.


Minister of Home AffairsMalusi Gigaba said this initiative comes after
the success of a similar project that has issued at least 2 000 smart
card identity documents (IDs) since August.


Both the smart ID cards and passport projects have worked really well.
Two pilot sites have taken both applications. The process has been
seamless.


— Malusi Gigaba, Minister of Home Affairs
According to Gigaba, the department will launch the online application
process this month, which will allow clients to complete the necessary
documentation at home.


When arriving at the banks, applicants will bypass queues and proceed
to take their photographs, and provide their automated fingerprint and
signature.


Gigaba said the roll-out of this project would happen at different
branches, in different phases, according to the agreements reached
with respective commercial banks.


Standard Bank, Nedbank, and FNB have signed a memorandum of
understanding with the department to help roll out the project.



The system was tested by issuing the cards to employees first before
it could be opened for bank clients.


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