South Africa to Revoke 2,000 Fraudulent Visas Following Damning Home Affairs Investigation

South Africa plans to revoke over 2,000 visas suspected of being fraudulently issued as part of a major crackdown on corruption in the Department of Home Affairs. The Special Investigating Unit found that officials exploited the immigration system for personal gain, with some receiving millions in illicit payments. Over 55 officials have been dismissed or suspended, 275 criminal referrals made, and systemic reforms—including digitizing visa processes—are being implemented to prevent further abuse.

South Africa is preparing to revoke more than 2,000 visas suspected of being issued through fraudulent means as part of a sweeping effort to tackle corruption within the Department of Home Affairs. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber stated that authorities are conducting a detailed review of administrative processes to cancel visas believed to have been obtained through corrupt networks that exploited weaknesses in the country’s immigration system. He explained that the government is looking closely at administrative procedures to ensure that visas obtained improperly are identified and revoked, signaling a strong commitment to reforming the department.
The crackdown follows a comprehensive investigation conducted by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which uncovered persistent schemes involving document fraud, irregular approval of visas and work permits, and facilitation networks that enabled unauthorized entry into South Africa. According to Schreiber, disciplinary measures have already been taken against dozens of officials implicated in serious maladministration. Since April last year, 20 Home Affairs officials have been dismissed and 16 suspended. In total, more than 55 officials have been dismissed since July 2024. In addition, the SIU has made 275 criminal referrals to the National Prosecuting Authority, while 111 investigations have been completed. Several disciplinary proceedings are still ongoing.
The investigation found that the immigration system had been exploited for years by a small group of officials who enriched themselves by accepting payments in exchange for issuing visas and residence permits. Some of the dismissed officials received more than 16 million rand (around $1 million) in illicit payments, which they used to purchase properties, build a mansion, and accumulate wealth. The SIU described the situation as a deliberate and organized abuse of the system, stating that South Africa’s immigration processes had been “treated as a marketplace,” where visas and permits were sold to the highest bidder. In many cases, applications were expedited via WhatsApp messages, with payments made to spouses of officials or hidden within application forms.
Beyond punishing individuals, the government is taking steps to reform the system more broadly. Minister Schreiber said the department is digitizing its processes and moving toward an electronic travel authorization platform, which will make the system more secure and transparent. He emphasized that only through systemic reform anchored in digital transformation and modern technology can the government effectively close the space for corruption in the immigration system.
The measures are part of a larger effort by the South African government to restore public trust and integrity in immigration processes. By combining disciplinary action, criminal investigations, and systemic reforms, authorities aim to ensure that the country’s immigration system operates fairly and that similar abuses do not occur in the future. The SIU’s findings highlight the scale of the corruption problem and underscore the need for ongoing vigilance, stronger oversight, and technological modernization to prevent officials from exploiting public office for personal gain.