SA goes digital: IDs, driving licences and even matric certificates

South Africa is preparing to step into a digital future, with IDs, driver’s licences and even matric certificates going online.

President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last week that a national digital identity system will launch in 2026.

The system, spearheaded by the Department of Home Affairs, will form part of the government’s unified digital services platform, MyMzansi.

The government hopes digitisation will reduce the need for in-person visits to government offices.

On his Facebook page on Monday, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said:

"In 2025, the Home Affairs ecosystem delivered on all our pledges - and more. But you ain’t seen nothing yet. In 2026, we’re building Digital ID, rolling out digital Smart ID and Passport services to 100s of bank branches, and scaling up the ETA - the best is about to come!"

Speaking to CapeTalk's John Maytham, Schreiber said the first phase of the digitisation will focus on Home Affairs services, with other departments getting on board later.

"We are creating the platform, we are building the space, and all those other departments can then build on top of that."

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Alongside the move towards digital documents, the government is also expanding smart ID and passport services through major banks.

Standard Bank, Absa, Capitec Bank, and Nedbank are on board, with hundreds of branches expected to support applications by 2026.

"The project with the banks is about to yield fruit. Within the next three to four weeks, we will be launching at a very big scale those first few bank branches," said Schreiber.

Once they go live, queues at Home Affairs branches will be reduced, he promised. Some services will potentially be available directly through banking apps.

Schreiber said the new system won't resemble the old way of doing things.

Instead, branches will feature digital terminals where citizens can apply for documents in minutes.

"We have measured, it takes three minutes to apply for a SmartID," he explained. "You type in your ID number, look into a camera, select what you want, make the payment, and proceed."

The goal, he says, is simple: a faster, more accessible and convenient system for South Africans.

To listen to Schreiber, use the audio player below: