The Special Investigating Unit has exposed extensive and deeply entrenched corruption within the Department of Home Affairs, revealing that organised criminal networks allegedly operated from inside the department and sold visas and permits for amounts starting at as little as R500.
Key Takeaways
- Presidential Authorisation Signals Seriousness: The investigation was formally empowered under Proclamation 154 of 2024, indicating high-level political backing and expanded legal authority for the SIU to probe systemic corruption.
- Systemic Immigration Irregularities Under Scrutiny: The focus of the probe is not isolated misconduct but broader structural weaknesses within the Department of Home Affairs’ permit and visa processes.
- Interim Report Now With The President: Preliminary findings have already been submitted to the President, meaning the matter has progressed beyond allegations and is now in a formal accountability phase.
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Interim Findings Submitted Following Presidential Proclamation 154 of 2024
The SIU released interim findings from a wide-ranging investigation into permit-related corruption at the Department of Home Affairs. The probe was authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa under Proclamation 154 of 2024, granting the unit formal powers to examine systemic irregularities within the immigration system.
An interim report detailing the progress and preliminary conclusions of the investigation has formally been submitted to the President for consideration.
When investigations are authorised through a presidential proclamation, it signals the seriousness of the matter and often grants investigators expanded powers such as subpoena authority, asset tracing, and access to financial records, which can significantly accelerate accountability processes.
Immigration System Turned Into a Marketplace
According to the SIU’s findings, South Africa’s immigration framework was effectively converted into a transactional marketplace over a period of several years, with permits and visas allegedly granted to the highest bidder rather than to qualifying applicants.
Officials who were entrusted with maintaining the integrity and lawful administration of the Department of Home Affairs instead allegedly used their positions for personal enrichment. External collaborators reportedly exploited political connections, fabricated supporting documentation, and manipulated administrative weaknesses in order to secure fraudulent residence permits for unqualified individuals.
The investigation further determined that the country’s border management system was, in effect, informally auctioned off through corrupt dealings, with residence rights and immigration status being sold incrementally.
Individuals and businesses that rely on verified immigration documentation should always confirm permit authenticity through official Home Affairs channels to avoid being implicated in fraudulent processes.
Whistleblower Revelations Trigger Probe
The inquiry was initiated after whistleblowers informed the SIU that foreign nationals were entering South Africa with the intention of fraudulently obtaining asylum seeker permits. These temporary permits were then allegedly used as stepping stones toward permanent residence and, eventually, citizenship.
The SIU received intelligence indicating that certain foreign nationals worked in concert with syndicates that included corrupt Home Affairs officials. Through these networks, permits were reportedly issued without proper merit-based assessment, as asylum documentation was allegedly processed without adequately evaluating the substance of claims.
Under existing legal processes, asylum seeker permit holders are permitted to remain in South Africa while exhausting appeal procedures, including applications that may reach as far as the Constitutional Court, regardless of the strength or validity of their underlying claim.
South Africa’s asylum system is among the most burdened globally, with significant backlogs that can extend over several years, creating vulnerabilities that criminal networks can exploit.
Coordinated Raids and Digital Evidence
To advance the investigation, the SIU secured an order from the Special Tribunal. With assistance from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, coordinated searches were conducted at five Refugee Reception Offices.
Authorities confiscated:
- Laptop computers and desktop systems
- Mobile phones
- External storage drives
- Physical files and documentation
Forensic analysis of seized mobile devices uncovered direct communication between departmental officials and foreign nationals. Payment records revealed E-Wallet transactions ranging from R500 to R3 000 that were allegedly linked to the unlawful approval of permits and visas for individuals who did not qualify.
Methods Used to Conceal Bribes
The investigation uncovered multiple payment channels that were allegedly used to disguise illicit transactions:
- Cash concealed inside application forms while office doors were closed to avoid surveillance cameras
- E-Wallet transfers made via non-RICA-registered or fraudulently registered mobile numbers
- Asylum applicants transferring E-Wallet funds to themselves and sharing one-time PIN codes with officials
- In-kind benefits, including payment of private rental expenses or services for officials
Officials reportedly utilised unregistered or so-called dummy phones to conceal communication and financial activity. The SIU indicated that the profits generated through these methods ran into millions of rands.
The use of non-RICA-registered numbers is itself a criminal offence under South African law, and financial institutions are increasingly flagging irregular mobile-linked transactions for investigation.
R16.3 Million Paid to Four Officials
Acting SIU head Leonard Lekgetho confirmed that the syndicate was allegedly led by officials who were directly responsible for the lawful processing, adjudication, and approval of visa applications.
These individuals are accused of engaging in conduct indicative of systemic corruption and unlawful enrichment, in direct violation of their official responsibilities.
The SIU disclosed that four officials, each earning less than R25 000 per month, collectively received R16.3 million in direct deposits over a defined period.
Evidence further suggests that some members of this group accumulated assets grossly disproportionate to their lawful earnings.
Comparison of Salary Versus Alleged Deposits
| Item | Approximate Monthly Salary | Total Alleged Deposits | Discrepancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four Officials Combined | Below R25 000 each | R16.3 million total | Vastly disproportionate |
The investigation identified cash purchases of multiple properties, as well as the development of high-value residential estates.
Some individuals constructed private homes featuring extensive infrastructure, including large solar power installations and expansive paved parking areas, suggesting access to capital inconsistent with declared income levels.
Large unexplained cash property purchases often trigger red flags under anti-money laundering frameworks and can lead to asset forfeiture proceedings.
Direct Link Between Permit Approvals and Payments
Investigators found that applications were frequently submitted via WhatsApp for expedited processing. Once approval was granted, payments reportedly followed almost immediately.
Funds were typically not transferred directly into the accounts of implicated officials. Instead, deposits were channelled into bank accounts held by spouses, allegedly to obscure the bribery trail.
In one documented instance, a permit was approved on 20 December and, by the following day, R3 000 had been deposited into the spouse’s account. In another example, R6 000 was transferred shortly after two permits were approved. These patterns strongly suggested a transactional link between official approval and payment receipt.
Officials allegedly operated within coordinated syndicates, using intermediaries to collect funds from foreign nationals.
Transaction descriptions such as Permit, Visa Process, or Building Material were reportedly used to mask the true purpose of transfers.
Secondary accounts belonging to spouses reflected unexplained deposits totalling hundreds of thousands of rand.
Analysis of a construction company registered in the name of one official’s husband revealed deposits amounting to R8.9 million between 2020 and 2023.
Another official allegedly accumulated sufficient unexplained wealth to construct a mansion and pave a private access road leading to her residence, despite earning a monthly salary of R25 000.
Wider Financial Impact and Systemic Failure
The SIU has traced financial gains exceeding R181 million connected to beneficiaries of fraudulent visa applications supported by fabricated documentation.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber welcomed the interim findings, stating that they expose long-standing maladministration in visa processing spanning approximately two decades, from 2004 to 2024.
He indicated that the administration formed after May 2024 under the Government of National Unity has implemented substantial reforms aimed at strengthening accountability mechanisms and accelerating digital transformation within the department to close systemic loopholes.
According to the minister, progress over the past 20 months includes:
- 275 criminal referrals linked to visa-related corruption
- 111 investigations finalised
- More than 2,000 fraudulent visas under review for revocation
- 41 officials dismissed from service
Digital transformation initiatives in immigration systems globally often include biometric verification, real-time database cross-checking, and automated risk scoring to reduce human discretion and corruption risk.
Broader Implications for National Security and Governance
The findings suggest that immigration corruption not only undermines administrative integrity but also poses risks to national security, economic stability, and public trust in state institutions.
The SIU’s investigation remains ongoing, and further enforcement action, asset recovery proceedings, and possible criminal prosecutions may follow as the full extent of the corruption network is uncovered.
Conclusion
The submission of the interim report to the President marks a significant step in confronting alleged corruption within the Department of Home Affairs, signalling that the investigation has moved from preliminary inquiry to formal accountability processes. With presidential authorisation granting expanded powers to probe systemic weaknesses, the SIU’s work underscores the seriousness of the findings and sets the stage for potential disciplinary action, criminal prosecutions, and institutional reform aimed at restoring integrity to South Africa’s immigration system.
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