SIU investigating over 100 Home Affairs officials for corruption
Of the 120 home affairs officials being investigated for corruption, 60 are stationed at the Marabastad Refugee Centre and are accused of illegally awarding documentation to foreign citizens.
The Special Investigating Unit on Friday, 17 May 2024, raided the Marabastad Department of Home Affairs for a search-and-seizure operation amid corruption allegations against staffers. Picture: Kgomotso Modise/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) says 120 Home Affairs employees have been earmarked for corrupt activities in awarding documentation to foreign citizens.
Investigators from the unit, who are probing allegations of corruption in the department pounced on five of the department’s refugee centres in Marabastad on Friday for a search-and-seizure operation.
This is in connection with the awarding of refugee status by Home Affairs officials.
The SIU’s Kaizer Kganyago said they are investigating documents awarded to asylum seekers dating back to 2004.
“The allegation is that there is corruption between officials and the foreigners that come here. They get given documents that they are not entitled to, some of the people come here not running away from their countries and they plead that they are refugees.”
Of the 120 home affairs officials investigated for corruption, 60 are stationed at the Marabastad Refugee Centre.
ONGOING: The SIU is all over the Marabastad Home Affairs department for a search and seizure operation.
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) May 17, 2024
This is happening at 5 home affairs offices in the country which are refugee centres.
Cellphones and other gadgets have been seized.
@motso_modise pic.twitter.com/GYyfBZrSgy