South Africa reached a landmark moment in digital governance when its Department of Home Affairs partnered with the country's leading banks to bring Smart ID enrollment directly into bank branches. Laxton provided the hardware at the heart of this transformation: the Laxton M Desktop, a compact ID enrolment station that allows citizens to complete a secure Smart ID application in under 10 minutes, with no appointment and no paperwork. Deployed across Capitec and Standard Bank branches, the solution tackles two longstanding challenges at once. It replaces the fraud-prone green ID book and expands access to identity services for the millions of South Africans who live far from a government office.
Project
Solution: National ID
Country: South Africa
Year: 2026
An Identity System Strained by Distance and Demand
Bringing Home Affairs to the People
Laxton M, a Purpose-Built for High-Volume Enrolment
South Africa's Banking Network Is Now Its Biggest Home Affairs Office
For millions of South Africans, a Capitec or Standard Bank branch is far closer than any Home Affairs office. By embedding enrollment into the existing banking network, the Digital Partnership Model meaningfully expands access for rural residents, those with mobility challenges, and low-income communities who cannot afford the time or transport to visit a government office.
The elimination of the fraud-prone green ID book — replacing it with a secure Smart ID — also strengthens South Africa's financial system. Banks and businesses can verify identity digitally, reducing fraud, streamlining KYC processes, and enabling more South Africans to participate in the formal economy.
The service is designed to be free at the point of delivery for partner banks during the launch phase, with Capitec charging only a nominal R10 logistics fee above the standard DHA application fee of R140 — minimising barriers for lower-income applicants.
