HOME AFFAIRS LAUNCHES SELF-SERVICE KIOSKS

To speed up service delivery and eliminate long queues, the Department of Home Affairs have launched self-service kiosks.

According to Deputy Minister Njabulo Nzuzua, the public will be able to reprint their birth, death, and marriage certificates at these kiosks without needing to engage with any other touchpoints.

“We are on track with self-service kiosks as part of our digital transformation journey.”

Nzuza told parliament last week that a number of these machines have already been purchased.

“The department has procured 75 of these virtual interactive self-service machines. The AI-powered kiosk will further expand our digital footprint and alleviate queues,” he said.

“It will provide an alternate digital self-service channel through which citizens can apply for and collect smart ID cards and passports.”

Home Affairs has taken a leaf out of other sectors, such as the restaurant business and banking. Self-service has been part of restaurants like McDonald’s and KFC for several years already, and they’ve proven to be very popular.

Even the banking industry has welcomed self-service terminals in lieu of consultants. TymeBank doesn’t have any physical branches in South Africa, but rather opted to have distributing terminals in grocery stores.

Customers can open accounts, replace lost or stolen bank cards, and apply for loans at TymeBank’s self-service kiosks.

Image credit: Democratic Alliance