During his budget speech this week, Home Affairs Deputy Minister, Njabulo Nzuza, announced plans to introduce self-service kiosks for passport and smart card ID applicants, as well as for some other documentation. The department plans to roll-out the system in the 2022/2023 financial year.
He said during his speech that the 2022/2023 budget will see the department exploring new ways to better service citizens, including by procuring kiosks that will allow clients to use self-service systems for passports and smart ID applications. The kiosks will also be able to reprint birth, marriage and death certificates.
The kiosks will be designed in a manner that will require authentication through biometrics and will be located in strategic areas to allow access even after office hours or on weekends.
Nzuza also spoke about the recently piloted Branch Appointment Booking System. He said it is proving to be the solution in dealing with the management of queues. The system provides citizens with the ability to book a date and time slot of their choice and is linked to the national population register for additional security. The Branch Appointment Booking System can be accessed through the Home Affairs website and is web-based.
