Overview
- The Department of Home Affairs launched the upgraded MyHomeAffairsOnline booking system on Thursday, June 18, 2026, and the service is live at myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za.
- Users must create a verified MyHomeAffairsOnline profile linked to a South African ID number and an email address before booking, a measure meant to prevent slot hoarding and resale by syndicates.
- Officials said the change responds to years of exploitation of the old booking platform where criminals blocked appointment slots and sold them, leaving many citizens unable to get identity documents or passports.
- The booking overhaul is part of a broader strategy that includes replacing about 16 million green-barcoded ID books with secure smart ID cards because the green book is easily altered and prone to fraud.
- Home Affairs has also rolled out a real-time employee verification portal for National Treasury to tackle ghost employees and curb payment irregularities that officials estimate cost the state about R3.9 billion in 2025.