South Africa has reached a significant milestone in digital governance. Citizens can now apply for their Smart ID at participating bank branches. No paperwork, no queues, no government office visit required. Laxton is proud to be part of this solution.
A Partnership Built for the Digital Age
Under the leadership of DA Minister Dr Leon Schreiber, the Department of Home Affairs launched its Digital Partnership Model, bringing identity enrollment into the banking network. Capitec Bank and Standard Bank branches are now live, processing Smart ID applications end-to-end digitally.
Laxton M Desktop
Each participating branch is equipped with the Laxton M Desktop, a compact all-in-one biometric capture station built for high-volume enrollment. In a single session, it captures everything needed for a complete Smart ID application:
Fingerprints — high-resolution multi-finger scanning
Facial image — camera-based capture to national document standards
Signature — electronic capture for a fully paperless process
Purpose-Built hardware solution
The Laxton M Desktop is designed for environments where reliability and ease of use matter most. Bank staff can operate it with minimal training, and it integrates seamlessly with existing banking infrastructure.
Expanding Access Where It Matters
For millions of South Africans, a Capitec or Standard Bank branch is far closer than a Home Affairs office. By plugging into existing banking networks, the Digital Partnership Model meaningfully expands access to identity services for underserved communities.
Laxton and Africa's Identity Infrastructure
Laxton has been supporting governments across Africa in building scalable identity ecosystems, from national ID programmes to civil registration and Voter ID. This deployment in South Africa reflects what a strong technology partnership can deliver.
We congratulate the Department of Home Affairs, Minister Dr Leon Schreiber, Capitec Bank, and Standard Bank on this achievement.
