{"id":3834,"date":"2026-01-04T23:16:23","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T23:16:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/3834\/"},"modified":"2026-01-04T23:16:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T23:16:23","slug":"is-2026-the-last-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/3834\/","title":{"rendered":"Is 2026 the LAST year?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you haven\u2019t already, 2026 is the time to wave goodbye to the old \u2018green mamba\u2019 SA ID booklet. For years, the Department of Home Affairs has been threatening to outmode the old paper-based identity document.<\/p>\n

One of the many reasons to do so is security. Officials say the old \u2018green mamba\u2019 SA ID booklet is one of the most forgeable in the world. From within the department and outside, it is the reason why identity theft has been rife over the last two decades in South Africa \u2026<\/p>\n

END OF THE SA ID BOOKLET<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA)<\/a> is betting big on digital identifiers to fill the gap left by the defunct SA ID booklet. The portfolio committee on Home Affairs heard in parliament late last year of daring plans for new digital IDs and e-passports. The Revised Strategic Plan (RSP) is the backbone of the new \u2018Home Affairs @ home\u2019 strategy.<\/p>\n

Much like how SARS handles tax returns, the DHA will soon go paperless. And the government department will replace all transactions with digital ones. It also set the ambitious timeline to roll all this out by 2030. So, where does that leave citizens with the old \u2018green mamba\u2019 SA ID booklet?<\/p>\n

FULLY DIGITAL BY 2030<\/p>\n

\"SABarring only rare circumstances, no new SA ID booklets will be issued by the department. Image: File <\/p>\n

Unfortunately, under previous DHA regimes, naturalised citizens\u00a0were excluded from new SA smart ID cards<\/a>. As such, they often had to travel to faraway branches to have their old \u2018green mamba\u2019 SA ID booklet renewed. This was because only select branches still had the outmoded means to do so \u2026<\/p>\n

Moreover, in May 2025, digital communications Minister Solly Malatsi launched South Africa\u2019s broader Digital Transformation Roadmap back. The still prototype initiative is basically an all-in-one digital public services platform<\/a> called MyMzansi. When up and running, you\u2019ll be able to renew your ID, passport and even your driver\u2019s licence online from the convenience of our cellphone. The key being everything is linked through multiple government databases.<\/p>\n

GOODBYE GREEN MAMBA SA ID BOOKLET<\/p>\n

Last year also saw new banks joining forces with the DHA to provide crucial services to move away from the paper-based SA ID booklet. At last count, 840 branches had signed up to the government\u2019s digital partnership program for 2026. These include: ABSA, Capitec, Discovery Bank, FNB, Standard Bank \u2026 with more to slated to follow.<\/p>\n

Moreover, the aforementioned is finally possible due to system upgrades to the department\u2019s Online Verification Service (OVS). The more streamlined system means real-time verification of income data for the likes SASSA grants and the UIF<\/a>. <\/p>\n

IS IT TIME TO PHASE OUT THE SA ID BOOKLET?<\/p>\n

\"SAPrevious Home Affairs\u2019 ministers took a less forward thinking approach to digitisation. Image: File <\/p>\n

Of course, with new smart ID cards costing R140 for anyone over the age of 16, the question is whether citizens have to start upgrading. Minister Schreiber has said a comprehensive plan to phase out the green ID book in favour of Smart ID cards is underway. And to ensure widespread adoption, the DHA is deploying various measures.<\/p>\n

For example, there are hundreds of mobile \u2018Home Affairs on Wheels<\/a>\u2019 units that will travel into underserved communities this year. However, until everyone has upgraded to the smart ID card, the \u2018green mamba\u2019 SA ID booklet will remain valid.<\/p>\n

BANKS THAT PROVIDE HOME AFFAIRS SERVICES<\/p>\n

\"SAThere are nowhere near 1 000 bank branches offering DHA services yet in South Africa. Image: File <\/p>\n

The 32 participating bank branches below are listed on the eHomeAffairs platform<\/a> for smart ID and passport applications. To use the service, you must first register on the eHomeAffairs portal. Then you book an available appointment slot. <\/p>\n

However, the challenge many citizens face is these slots book up months in advance, which can be difficult for time-sensitive transactions like passport renewals. After starting the process digitally, you then complete it by having their biometrics verified at the bank branch you selected. You can contact them directly below:<\/p>\n

Gauteng (19)<\/p>\n

ABSA Centurion \u2013 066 460 0356<\/p>\n

ABSA Towers \u2013 011 350 4111<\/p>\n

ABSA Key West\u00a0\u2013 079 900 6457<\/p>\n

ABSA Sandton \u2013 066 290 3314<\/p>\n

Discovery Bank Head Office \u2013 0860 998 877<\/p>\n

FNB Centurion \u2013 012 653 2661<\/p>\n

FNB Lynnwood\u00a0\u2013 066 460 0130<\/p>\n

FNB Merchant Place\u00a0\u2013 066 290 3307<\/p>\n

FNB Glen Shopping Centre \u2013 061 495 4441<\/p>\n

FNB Krugersdorp \u2013 087 345 3290<\/p>\n

Investec Sandown\u00a0\u2013 011 286 7000<\/p>\n

Nedbank Arcadia\u00a0\u2013 066 460 0122<\/p>\n

Nedbank Constantia Kloof\u00a0\u2013 011 639 4208<\/p>\n

Nedbank Lakeview \u2013 080 055 5111<\/p>\n

Nedbank Rivonia\u00a0\u2013 066 290 3257<\/p>\n

Standard Bank Centurion\u00a0\u2013 012 671 4042<\/p>\n

Standard Bank Killarney\u00a0\u2013 011 486 0002<\/p>\n

Standard Bank Simmonds Street\u00a0\u2013 011 639 4205<\/p>\n

Standard Bank Jubilee Mall\u00a0\u2013 011 351 7814<\/p>\n

Western Cape (5)<\/p>\n

ABSA Stellenbosch\u00a0\u2013 021 809 2311<\/p>\n

FNB Greenpoint \u2013 087 345 6090<\/p>\n

Nedbank St Georges Mall \u2013 0800 555 111<\/p>\n

Standard Bank Canal Walk \u2013 021 529 8216<\/p>\n

Standard Bank Mitchell\u2019s Plain \u2013 0860 123\u00a0000<\/p>\n

KwaZulu-Natal (3)<\/p>\n

FNB Cornubia\u00a0\u2013 031 308 7900<\/p>\n

Nedbank Durban North \u2013 0800 555 111<\/p>\n

Standard Bank Kingsmead \u2013 031 308 7900<\/p>\n

Eastern Cape (2)<\/p>\n

ABSA Port Elizabeth \u2013 041 404 8319<\/p>\n

Standard Bank Newton \u2013 041 404 8319<\/p>\n

Northern Cape (1)<\/p>\n

Standard Bank Kathu Mall \u2013 053 723 9610<\/p>\n

Limpopo (1)<\/p>\n

FNB Burgersfort\u00a0\u2013 013 216 0098<\/p>\n

Mpumalanga (1)<\/p>\n

Nedbank Nelspruit \u2013 081 336 5941<\/p>\n

There are no bank branches currently in the Free State and North West that support this service.<\/p>\n

WHAT YOU NEED WHEN APPLYING<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re foreign born, you must produce a government-issue foreign identification card or passport. This must originate from the country of your birth and may be used as valid identification.<\/p>\n

ID or travel documents from the old Transkei, Bophutatswana, Venda or Ciskei homelands will be accepted.<\/p>\n

Be sure to bring along birth certificates for any first-time applicants (children).<\/p>\n

Also bring any documentation verifying legal guardianship in the event of adoption.<\/p>\n

As parents of a first-time applicant, you will need to present your own ID (parental ID), too.<\/p>\n

In the event of deceased parents, you must supply all relevant death certificates.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget your proof of address (a utility bill with your name and address clearly stated on it, not older than three months).<\/p>\n

If born elsewhere, you must produce your valid permanent resident certificate.<\/p>\n

In the event of a lost\/stolen ID document, you need a sworn and signed police affidavit including a valid police case number.<\/p>\n

But what do you think? Have you used a bank to renew your passport or replace your SA ID booklet? How was the service? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below \u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If you haven\u2019t already, 2026 is the time to wave goodbye to the old \u2018green mamba\u2019 SA ID…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3835,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[52],"tags":[3166,305,3167,306,3168,131],"class_list":{"0":"post-3834","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-south-africa","8":"tag-department-of-home-affairs","9":"tag-featured","10":"tag-green-id-book","11":"tag-important","12":"tag-smart-id-card","13":"tag-south-africa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3834","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3834"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3834\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3835"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3834"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3834"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3834"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}