The South African Department of Home Affairs has taken a firm stance against corruption, dismissing 27 officials for fraud, corruption, and misconduct between July 2024 and February 2025.
Minister Leon Schreiber praised the department’s progress in tackling corrupt practices within the organization. He revealed that, during the same period, 10 officials from the Border Management Authority (BMA) were dismissed for corruption, with one official terminated for aiding and abetting illegal activities.
Schreiber noted that corruption within the department is not merely a result of individual misconduct but part of a more complex issue involving organized syndicates. These groups have been exploiting the immigration system to extort bribes from both South Africans and immigrants. Schreiber explained, “Where syndicates take control, they deliberately break the system. For these criminals, an immigration system that creates loopholes for bribery is not broken—it is working exactly as they intend.”
To address this, Schreiber launched the Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum (BMIACF), aimed at tackling corruption at its root. This initiative works to close the gaps criminals exploit, holding individuals accountable while reforming the system to ensure transparency and fairness.
The department has partnered with several law enforcement agencies, including the Special Investigating Unit, Border Management Authority, Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, and the National Prosecuting Authority, to reinforce accountability in border and immigration operations.
Schreiber detailed that, of the 27 dismissed officials, 18 were let go in November 2024, with another nine dismissed since then. Following ongoing appeals, this number could rise. So far, eight former officials have been convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to 18 years, and criminal proceedings are underway for another 19.
The department has also dismissed 10 officials from the BMA for corruption, with an additional 45 BMA cases pending disciplinary action that could result in further terminations.
In a bid to eradicate corruption, Schreiber also revealed that the department is replacing paper-based systems with electronic solutions. The introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorisation, powered by Artificial Intelligence and machine learning, will automate visa adjudication, making it far more secure and less vulnerable to manipulation. Similarly, the green ID book will be replaced with a more secure digital ID system, and all entry and exit processes will be automated at South Africa’s ports of entry.
Schreiber emphasized, “You cannot bribe a computer or an electronic gate. This system revolution will close the door to bribery and manipulation, ensuring that decisions are fair and secure.”
