“Big Up Capitec”: Xolile Vesi Reacts to Self-Service ID Application at Capitec, SA Impressed

• Content creator Xolile Vesile praised the new Capitec and Home Affairs partnership that lets South Africans apply for smart IDs at bank branches
• Vesile noted that a Capitec account is required to use the self-service ID application, and joked that Home Affairs queues would move to Capitec
• South Africans who had already used the service said it took just minutes to complete

South African digital content creator Xolile Vesile gave his stamp of approval to a new government and banking partnership that is making it easier for South Africans to apply for smart IDs without ever stepping inside a Home Affairs office. In a video posted on his Facebook account on 28 August 2026, Xolile Vesile spoke about the collaboration between Capitec and the Department of Home Affairs, which allows South Africans to apply for smart IDs at Capitec branches using self-service terminals.

No "system is offline" at Capitec

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He was quick to flag one important condition: you need an active Capitec bank account to access the service. One of the biggest cheers from Vesile came when he reassured viewers they would not be met with the frustration that has become synonymous with Home Affairs visits. The dreaded "system is offline" message, which has sent countless South Africans home empty-handed over the years, would not be a feature at Capitec branches.

Still, he kept his signature comedic edge. Vesile jokingly warned that the notoriously long Home Affairs queues would not disappear; they would simply relocate to the nearest Capitec branch.

Watch Xolile's full reaction here in the Facebook reel below

Mzansi reacts to the Capitec ID service

The reactions suggest the partnership has struck a chord with South Africans who have long grown weary of the traditional Home Affairs experience. For many, the idea of sorting out an ID in under five minutes at a bank branch still feels almost too good to be true. Viewers flooded the comments with their thoughts, and several who had already used the service shared glowing feedback:

@Ryan Bijorn Amos said:

"Wow, what an effortless service! I was in and out within three minutes! Collection was four days later! Excellent service!"

@Hlanganisa Damba wrote:

"Oh! Thanks, now I can go and change my A4 ID book 😃."

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@Tshepo Mia Rofhi shared:

"My brother did it, yoh! He says everything is quick; he was happy. Big up Capitec."

@Reatleile Precious Chake suggested:

"I wish SASSA could implement this strategy. Yoh! SASSA guys!"

@Nosiphiwo Nkalweni joked:

"We will end up making death certificates for ourselves. Yho!"

@Naledi Lolwane asked:

"Can we do passports as well 😩?"

3 Briefly News articles about IDs

• South Africans citizens with blocked IDs can contest the status by submitting a specific set of documents to the Department of Home Affairs.
• The Department of Home Affairs is preparing to introduce direct home delivery for renewed Smart IDs and passports, allowing citizens to receive identity documents at their doorsteps through a courier model similar to bank card deliveries.
• Local bank Absa announced the rollout of Smart ID and passport application services in its branches, a service which already exists at major lenders, expanding the reach of Home Affairs services to more South Africans.

Source: Briefly News