A damning interim report released by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) today has laid bare a systemic rot within the Department of Home Affairs, revealing how South Africa's immigration system has been manipulated for years as a “marketplace” for the highest bidder.

The investigation, authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa under Proclamation 154 of 2024, uncovered an organised, deliberate scheme where corrupt officials colluded with syndicates to sell visas, work permits, and residence status to foreign nationals.

Systemic exploitation and high-profile connections

Acting Head of the SIU, Leonard Lekgetho, briefed the media today, stating that officials turned their positions into profit-making schemes. The investigation, which traced over R181 million in financial gains linked to fraudulent beneficiaries, highlighted how high-profile figures leveraged influence and fabricated documentation to secure status.

The SIU explicitly named several individuals who allegedly exploited these systemic weaknesses:

  • Shepherd Bushiri: The SIU stated that the religious figure used his influence, church networks, and fabricated documentation to secure his immigration status.
  • Timothy Omotoso: The investigation identified that his entry and subsequent residence in South Africa were secured through fundamental fraud and misrepresentation.
  • Kudakwashe Mpofu: The former North West Development Corporation (NWDC) CFO was identified as having obtained a fraudulent Permanent Residence Permit. The investigation revealed  the document was riddled with irregularities, and Mpofu used these falsified credentials to secure high-paying state positions. He has since been convicted and sentenced for fraud.
  • Prince Daniel Obioma (3GAR): The Nigerian artist, who gained notoriety following a high-speed accident in his McLaren in Cape Town in 2025, was also named by the SIU as an external actor who exploited influence and systemic weaknesses within the department to secure fraudulent residence permits.

A “Marketplace” for citizenship

The investigation found that corruption was entrenched. Foreign nationals often secured fraudulent asylum seeker permits, using them as a springboard to apply for permanent residence and eventually citizenship. This allowed individuals to obtain South African passports, granting them privileges they were not legally entitled to.

Accountability and the path forward

Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber emphasised that the government is taking urgent action to restore the department's integrity.

  • Disciplinary Action: Since April 2025, 20 officials have been dismissed, with 75 disciplinary cases completed over the past two years.
  • Criminal Referrals: The SIU has referred over 275 matters to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for criminal prosecution.
  • Systemic Reform: The Department is accelerating digital transformation, including the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), to reduce human discretion and close the loopholes that allowed these syndicates to thrive.

The SIU's investigation continues, with a mandate to recover public funds and ensure that those who manipulated the system for personal gain face the full might of the law.