South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has been rocked by findings of widespread corruption involving officials who allegedly facilitated the unlawful entry and naturalisation of foreign nationals.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) released the findings during a joint media briefing, revealing that foreign nationals who benefited from fraudulent activities collectively earned about R181 million through employment and business activities over a 20-year period.
According to SIU head Leonard Lekgetho, the investigation followed a whistleblower’s allegations that foreign nationals were fraudulently obtaining asylum seeker permits, which were later used to secure permanent residence and ultimately citizenship. Authorities conducted search-and-seizure operations at offices handling asylum applications, which they believe form the starting point of the scheme.
Investigators found evidence that some foreign nationals colluded with syndicates involving corrupt officials to obtain permits and payments without proper assessment of asylum claims. Even when applications were rejected, individuals were reportedly able to remain in the country by exhausting appeal processes regardless of the merits of their cases.
Electronic devices seized during the raids revealed communication records and payment trails linking officials and applicants. Bribes were allegedly paid through various methods, including cash concealed in application documents, e-wallet transfers using unregistered numbers, and in-kind benefits such as covering officials’ personal expenses. In some cases, applicants reportedly sent e-wallet payments to themselves and provided one-time passwords to officials to complete transactions.
The SIU described the scale of illicit enrichment as significant. One investigation uncovered deposits totalling R8.9 million into a construction company registered in the name of an official’s spouse, with some payments explicitly linked to permanent residence applications. In another case, an official earning a monthly salary of R25,000 allegedly accumulated substantial unexplained wealth, including building a mansion and paving a road leading to her home.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schrieber confirmed that disciplinary action has been taken against implicated staff members. Since April last year, 20 officials have been dismissed, 16 suspended, and 22 issued with written warnings. He expressed concern that a relatively small group of junior officials had learned to manipulate systemic weaknesses, effectively “auctioning the country” through corrupt practices.
The findings underscore ongoing vulnerabilities in immigration processing systems and have intensified calls for stronger oversight and accountability within the department.