The Department of Home Affairs has announced a temporary but significant operational shift to alleviate a perennial year-end bottleneck. For many South Africans, applying for or collecting critical identity and travel documents has been synonymous with long queues and logistical headaches. This new initiative represents a targeted effort to change that experience during peak demand periods.
### Decoding the Extended Hours: Dates, Details, and Strategy
The extended operating hours—until 18:00 instead of 16:00—are a direct response to the surge in demand as people prepare for holiday travel and the new academic year. The specific windows are:
* **8 to 19 December 2025**
* **5 to 16 January 2026**
**Pro Tip for Applicants:** While walk-ins will be accepted, Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber strongly recommends using the **Branch Appointment Booking System (BABS)** on the Home Affairs website. This is not just a queue-management tool; it allows the office to prepare your file in advance, potentially speeding up your in-person processing time significantly. Furthermore, the minister highlighted that offices now have **dedicated counters for collections**. If you have already applied and received notification that your document is ready, these extended hours present a prime opportunity for a quicker collection with less competition for general service counters.
### The Larger Context: Why This Move Matters More Than You Think
This temporary measure is a tactical move within a much larger, strategic challenge. The department is grappling with a dual crisis:
1. **The Unidentified Population:** Over **4.4 million South Africans aged 16 and older** possess neither the old green barcoded ID book nor the new Smart ID card. This lack of formal identification creates a profound barrier to accessing banking, education, social services, and formal employment, effectively locking citizens out of the economy.
2. **The Green ID Phase-Out:** Minister Schreiber has been clear: the production of new green ID books should cease from **2026**, with the document eventually becoming invalid. However, this policy is contingent on universal access to the Smart ID. The scale of the task is immense, with an estimated **16 million green ID books still in circulation**.
Phasing out the green ID book will take years
### The Capacity Equation: How Long Will the Transition Really Take?
Understanding the department’s production capacity is key to managing public expectations. The Government Printing Works (GPW) is the engine of this transition.
* **Practical Annual Capacity:** Approximately **3 million Smart ID cards**, with a stretch potential to **4-5 million** under ideal conditions.
* **Recent Output:** The GPW produced **3.6 million cards in the last financial year**, demonstrating it can operate near the top of its practical range.
**A Realistic Timeline:** Simple math reveals the challenge. Replacing 16 million green books and issuing first-time IDs to 4.4 million citizens means producing over **20 million documents**. At a sustained maximum rate of 5 million per year, the technical replacement alone would take **four years**. The department’s own estimate suggests that even with peak production in 2026 and 2027, around **one million green books would remain by March 2028**, with full replacement likely achieved later that year. This timeline is optimistic and hinges on unprecedented operational efficiency and uptake.
### Future-Proofing Access: The “Home Affairs @ Home” Vision
Recognizing that physical office extensions are a stopgap, the department is pursuing a more sustainable, long-term solution through its **Home Affairs @ Home** project. The cornerstone of this strategy is the expansion of partnerships with major banks.
**How It Works & Why It’s a Game-Changer:**
* **Convenience:** Apply for your Smart ID or passport at designated bank branches, which often have longer hours and are located in more accessible retail environments.
* **Efficiency:** This diverts a large portion of routine applications away from Home Affairs offices, reducing congestion dramatically.
* **Equity:** Freed-up Home Affairs staff can then be redeployed to conduct mobile unit outreaches in rural and underserved communities, tackling the “access gap” head-on.
### Your Action Plan: Navigating the System Now
1. **Check Your Document:** If you still use a green ID book, start planning your switch. Do not wait for the last-minute rush or an official expiry notice.
2. **Book Online, Always:** Use the BABS system for any office visit. It is the single most effective way to reduce your wait time.
3. **Explore Bank Channels:** Before heading to a Home Affairs office, check if your bank offers application services. This is often the fastest and most comfortable route.
4. **Use the Extended Windows Strategically:** The December and January extensions are ideal for collections and for those who need documents urgently for holiday travel or school enrollment. Plan your visit for the middle of the extended period (e.g., mid-December) to potentially avoid the initial rush.
In conclusion, the extended hours are a welcome short-term relief valve, but they are a symptom of a much larger systemic transformation. The shift from the green ID book to the Smart ID card is a monumental logistical undertaking intertwined with a critical mission of social inclusion. By understanding the broader context—the capacity limits, the bank partnership strategy, and the sheer scale of the task—South Africans can better navigate the process, plan ahead, and ultimately secure the foundational document needed for full participation in society.