Home Affairs corruption exposed: SIU says permits and visas were sold for cash

A damning interim report by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has exposed what investigators describe as a “marketplace” inside the Department of Home Affairs.

Permits and visas were allegedly sold for cash, with even citizenship reportedly up for negotiation.

The findings point to organised, sustained corruption stretching back nearly two decades.

For many South African voters, already frustrated by repeated corruption scandals, the revelations add to growing anger over accountability and governance failures.

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Syndicates, officials and fake documents

The SIU says corruption was not limited to isolated cases.

Instead, overlapping syndicates involving officials, intermediaries and foreign nationals allegedly worked together to manipulate immigration systems.

Fraudulent permits were secured through fake documents, sham marriages, and manipulated administrative processes

SIU spokesperson Selby Makgotho said the investigation uncovered deeply embedded irregularities across visa categories, including permanent residence and critical skills visas.

“These were not everyday cases,” Makgotho said, pointing to high-profile individuals who allegedly bypassed standard processes.

R181 million traced, more expected

The SIU has traced at least R181 million to beneficiaries of fraudulent applications.

The money allegedly flowed through cash payments, e-wallet transfers, and networks of intermediaries.

Makgotho said the true figure could be higher as investigations continue.

“The mandate is to follow the money and recover what was lost to the state,” he said.

Recovery proceedings are already being prepared for the Special Tribunal and other courts.

Mega churches and high-profile names

The report also highlights the role of religious networks in some cases.

Names like Shepherd Bushiri and Timothy Omotoso resurfaced during the investigation.

According to the SIU, some pastors allegedly entered South Africa on temporary visas but later established large religious followings and financial networks.

Investigators say corruption made it easier to bypass immigration controls, secure legal status fraudulently, and move large sums of money.

In some cases, unsuspecting South Africans’ identities were allegedly used to facilitate fraudulent citizenship or financial transactions.

Governance failures and national risk

The SIU said the scale of the corruption points to serious failures in oversight and compliance.

Makgotho acknowledged that the system should have detected the abuses earlier.

“This could have been easy to detect if governance systems were functioning properly,” he said.

The consequences go beyond financial loss.

Authorities warn that the findings raise concerns about border control, national security risks, and South Africa’s global reputation.

Calls for accountability grow

The SIU has recommended disciplinary action and corrective measures within Home Affairs.

It is also working with border management authorities to tighten controls and prevent further abuse.

For South African voters, the report reinforces a familiar pattern: systemic corruption, slow accountability, and long-running institutional failure.

With elections shaping political pressure, the question now is whether consequences will follow or whether another scandal will fade without meaningful change.