The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) acting head Leonard Lekgetho has called on the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to consider vetting of all its employees as well as strengthening vetting processes for visa applications.

This after its investigation revealed a disturbing picture of systemic corruption within the DHA, describing the country’s immigration system as been “treated as a marketplace”, where permits and visas are sold, traded and laundered.

Lekgetho was speaking during the release of the SIU’s interim report on the DHA, where he explained that officials enriched themselves by unlawfully issuing permits, using spouses as conduits to launder bribes.

He said syndicates operated with precision, exploiting weaknesses in verification and monitoring.

The investigation into the DHA was authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The interim report outlining the outcome of the SIU investigation has been submitted to the President, with the SIU now making the findings publicly available.

Lekgetho explained that a whistleblower alleged to the SIU that foreign nationals and South Africans fraudulently obtained asylum seeker permits and later used them to apply for permanent residence and ultimately citizenship.

The SIU received information that the foreign nationals colluded with syndicates and corrupt Home Affairs officials to secure permits.

The SIU has also traced financial gains exceeding R181-million associated with beneficiaries of fraudulent visa applications, which were underpinned by fake documentation.

Lekgetho said payments were made through various methods, such as cash hidden in application forms, with office doors closed to avoid cameras, as well as e-wallet deposits.

“Asylum seekers sending e-wallet payments to themselves and providing the OTPs to official and in-kind payments, such as covering official private rent or services. An official used dummy phones to conceal transaction and communication,” Lekgetho said.

The SIU revealed that so far, it has uncovered that four officials who earn less than R25 000 a month, have received a total of R16.3-million in direct deposits.

Officials also operated within syndicates and used intermediaries to collect funds from foreign nationals and transactions referred as payment and visa processes or building materials were used to mask the true nature of the payment.

“Analysis of a construction company registered in the name of one official's husband reveal deposits totalling R8.9-million, between 2020 and 2023,” Lekgetho said.

He highlighted that at least R185 000 was directly linked to the Permanent Residence Permit (PRP) application.

RELIGIOUS FIGURES SYNDICATE

Lekgetho said the SIU has identified a coordinated network of religious figures, where pastors and prophets exploited the immigration system through fraudulent documentation and fake retirement confirmation, falsified financial means, marriages of convenience, and syndicate back sponsorship, faking financial stability.

He explained that prophet Shepherd Bushiri, Kudakwashe Mpofu, and Nigerian nationals leveraged influence, fabricated documentation, and misused networks to secure fraudulent immigration status.

Lekgetho said an investigation revealed that $1.2-million in cash was paid from Bushiri’s non-profit company at Lanseria Airport.

Pastor Timothy Omotoso's modus operandi was fundamentally built on fraud and misrepresentation to enter, and subsequent residence, in South Africa.

“His initial entry was secured through a fraudulently obtained work permit, issued in a country where he was not a citizen, based on an unauthorised directive,” Lekgetho said.

He explained that the investigation revealed that the waiver was unlawfully granted by an official without the necessary delegated authority, highlighting a strategy of leveraging administrative gaps to override lawful rejections and perpetuate his stay in the country.

The SIU investigation revealed that Mpofu’s modus operandi included exploiting deficiencies in the DHA system, using agents to shift responsibility, abusing litigation to delay accountability, and taking advantage of weak interdepartmental verification processes.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Meanwhile, the SIU has recommended the department consider system integration across all its processes, including those of other government departments linked to it.

The SIU wants the department to consider developing a step-by-step guideline on how verification should be conducted and suggested it consider implementing quality assurance before the issuance of visas.

“The department should consider system integration between the DHA and the Department of Labour,” said Lekgetho.

The department should also strengthen its contract management, by enforcing an ethical culture and provide ethical training to its employees, the SIU suggested.