JOHANNESBURG — The acting head of South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on Thursday urged residents to report suspicious behaviour in their communities — singling out neighbours who suddenly drive “flashy cars” — as the unit released findings from a probe into corruption at the Department of Home Affairs.
Leonard Lekgetho said the SIU’s investigation, authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2024 after a whistleblower complaint, uncovered syndicates operating inside the visa and permit system. Evidence indicates some Home Affairs staff were accepting payments in cash, via eWallets, through spouses’ bank accounts or “in kind” to process visas and permanent residence permits for people who did not meet legal requirements.
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Payments ranged from about R300 to R5,000 for individual transactions, the SIU said. The probe documented patterns of irregular approvals and identified officials who allegedly facilitated the issuance of fraudulent documents.
Key SIU findings include:
- Systemic exploitation of manual processing loopholes that allowed unqualified applicants to obtain visas and permits.
- Use of informal payment channels, including eWallets and family accounts, to conceal corrupt transactions.
- Evidence pointing to coordinated networks beyond isolated incidents, involving intermediaries and some Home Affairs employees.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the problem involved a “small group” of officials and described long-standing maladministration that the department is seeking to correct. He outlined steps already taken: dismissals, ongoing disciplinary action, targeted visa cancellations and an accelerated rollout of biometric and automated visa systems intended to reduce human intervention and close avenues for fraud.
The SIU investigation is part of a wider effort by state institutions to restore integrity to immigration and residency processes after years of complaints about service breakdowns and corruption. Lekgetho urged whistleblowers to come forward with information that could help investigators map networks and pinpoint those benefiting from illicit transactions.
Law enforcement and oversight bodies now face the task of converting the SIU’s findings into prosecutions and administrative sanctions while Home Affairs implements technical and procedural reforms. Analysts say greater automation and biometric controls could reduce opportunities for bribery, but stress that internal accountability and stronger staff vetting remain essential.
For communities, Lekgetho’s appeal was blunt: report signs of unexplained wealth and sudden lifestyle changes that may indicate proceeds of corruption. “If you see neighbours driving luxury cars or living beyond visible means, that can be a lead,” he said, according to the SIU summary.
Investigators said further steps, including forensic audits and expanded interviews with witnesses and whistleblowers, are planned as the SIU pursues criminal and civil remedies where warranted.
By News-room
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
