This follows a sweeping investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into corruption and maladministration in the country\u2019s immigration system.<\/p>\n
The SIU probe uncovered recurring patterns of document fraud, visa manipulation and networks facilitating unauthorised entry into the country. Schreiber said the findings reflect deep\u2011rooted problems within the department, but stressed that decisive action is now underway.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Since April last year, 20 Home Affairs officials have been dismissed and 16 suspended for serious misconduct. Schreiber said that, in total, the department has dismissed more than 55 officials since July 2024. At least 90% of these cases relate to corruption, fraud or deliberate violation of internal processes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have 275 criminal referrals out of this work and 111 investigations closed. We also have a number of disciplinary processes still live, and we are looking at administrative processes to potentially revoke over 2 000 visas that may have come fraudulently out of this kind of work,\u201d Schreiber said at a briefing on Monday.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cAccountability is happening. We are enforcing very serious consequences and we are also changing the system.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The SIU\u2019s interim report also exposed a corruption scandal worth more than $1 million involving self\u2011proclaimed prophets Shepherd Bushiri and Timothy Omotoso, as well as businessman Kudakwashe Mpofu. The trio allegedly benefited from a sophisticated visa and permanent residence fraud scheme facilitated by corrupt Home Affairs officials.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The investigation was authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa after whistleblowers reported irregularities. It revealed how systemic weaknesses in the immigration system were exploited for personal gain.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
SIU Head Leonard Lekgetho said the report uncovered a network in which officials responsible for safeguarding the integrity of Home Affairs instead turned their positions into opportunities for profit.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cOfficials entrusted with protecting the department\u2019s integrity turned their positions into a profit\u2011making scheme. External actors including Bushiri, Mpofu and Nigerian Rapper Prince Obioma, exploited fabricated documents and manipulated system weaknesses to secure permanent residence,\u201d Lekgetho said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The SIU is expected to submit further recommendations as additional investigations continue.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
–SABC\/ChannelAfrica–<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":24142,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"news-type":[78,26],"class_list":["post-24141","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-type-featured","news-type-general_news","entry"],"acf":{"short_description":"South Africa's (SA) Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber says the department is preparing to revoke more than 2 000 fraudulently issued visas. ","published_date":null,"news_description":"South Africa's (SA) Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber says the department is preparing to revoke more than 2 000 fraudulently issued visas. ","form_embed":"","author":"","image_caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/24141","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/24141\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26910,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/24141\/revisions\/26910"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24142"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24141"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-type?post=24141"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}