The Department of Home Affairs has dismissed 63 officials for corruption, fraud and misconduct since July 2024, with the latest seven terminations announced last week.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber confirmed the dismissals following the conclusion of disciplinary processes, with a further 16 officials suspended pending investigation. The department has initiated 95 misconduct cases since the formation of the Government of National Unity, with 75 already finalised.
The crackdown follows the release of a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) interim report in February that exposed two decades of visa and permit maladministration at the department. The report revealed that over 2 000 study visas were fraudulently issued, with syndicates and corrupt officials exploiting manual, paper-based processes.
The SIU investigation, conducted under Proclamation 154 of 2024, uncovered schemes involving R181 million in fake applications and identified four low-paid officials who allegedly earned R16,3 million through selling documents via WhatsApp. The unit has referred 278 criminal cases to prosecutors and flagged 101 fraudulent documents for cancellation.
Dismissals have been ongoing since November 2024, when 18 officials were fired for offences including irregular issuance of identity documents, marriages, birth certificates, passports, visas and asylum permits. By September 2025, 54 officials had been dismissed and eight jailed with sentences of up to 18 months.
The latest seven dismissals bring the total to 63, with officials found guilty of various forms of misconduct, corruption and fraud-related irregularities.
“The decisive pace at which disciplinary matters are now processed demonstrates our unwavering commitment to repairing the damage inflicted on Home Affairs over many years,” Schreiber said in a statement.
The minister emphasised a zero-tolerance approach to corruption alongside efforts to digitise the department’s systems. Nearly 150 bank branches now offer Smart ID applications, whilst document and visa processes are being rapidly digitised to eliminate manual loopholes.
The Democratic Alliance, through spokesperson on Home Affairs Adrian Roos, welcomed the action. “This reflects a far harsher approach to consequence management, one that the DA has long called for in the fight against corruption within Home Affairs,” Roos said.
The department is working with the SIU, Hawks, National Prosecuting Authority and Border Management Authority through an Anti-Corruption Forum to address systemic corruption.
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