[Tony Sousa]

I collected my Smart ID from Home Affairs – First National Bank Merchant Place in Sandton this morning. I only had to wait 10 days for the Smart ID. Excellent service at the branch👍

Home Affairs under Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber (Democratic Alliance) is expanding its partnership with South Africa’s largest banks as part of its initiative to roll out Smart IDs nationwide.

Home Affairs provides bad service as well as good service. Below my experience plus tips on how to obtain your Smart ID, Passport and other documents hassle-free:

Bad Service👎

I spent 3 days trying to complete the Form on the Home Affair portal. It was difficult to access the website, at times the website logged me out, to log in again I had to wait for the code that never arrived. After many attempts I almost completed the Form but… could not make a booking. I wasn’t able to make a booking because on the Home Affairs website it showed that the R600 payment (for the tourist passport) was ‘pending’ whereas on my online banking it showed that the amount had been duly paid to Home Affairs.

Good Service👍

Their website is problematic but there are many good things to say about the current Department of Home Affairs:

• they partnered with major South African banks, including FNB, Capitec, and Standard Bank, to provide Smart ID and passport services at select bank branches. 
• I went to FNB Merchant Place in Sandton. No queues. Friendly, competent staff. They resolved the technical glitch and subsequently payment was showing on my Home Affairs file.
• I got my passport within a week and my new smart ID in 10 days.

Kudos to the Minister of Home Affairs and his Team. They are doing a good job. Thank you👏👏👍👍

Tips: Try to complete the relevant form on the Home Affairs portal. Should you for whatever reason not be able to complete the Form, get the reference number you were provided with during registration and then visit the Home Affairs at a bank that offers Home Affairs facilities. Should you visit FNB Merchant Place in Sandton I suggest you go there between 9 and 11am. No traffic congestion and no queues.

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