The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes that the clean-up of Home Affairs under Minister Leon Schreiber was enhanced today by the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) exposing a grand scheme of permit and visa corruption going back over 20 years.
We welcome that 275 criminal referrals have been made to the National Prosecuting Authority following extensive investigations into fraud and maladministration. These referrals, together with more than a hundred completed investigations and numerous administrative actions, highlight the scale of wrongdoing that has undermined South Africa’s immigration system and eroded public confidence, and which was inherited when the DA came to lead the Department just 19 months ago.
Under the leadership of Minister Leon Schreiber, accountability measures are at their strongest now, in the Department of Home Affairs.
A moment like this begs the question as to why such rampant corruption was politically allowed to continue without criminal investigations and criminal proceedings through so many previous Home Affairs Ministers?
The DA is appalled that one Home Affairs official was caught in this investigation building a mansion of a home, with private road to her home, on a salary of just R25,000.00 a month – a lifestyle incompatibility that speaks directly to sources of funds outside of her salary.
Minister Schreiber’s enormous commitment to digital transformation, like the rollout of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, is a groundbreaking solution to reduce human discretion in permits and visa applications. The less human discretion, the less corruption is possible, empowering honest officials.
Technology, when implemented responsibly, can play a vital role in closing corruption loopholes and improving service delivery for both citizens and legitimate visitors to South Africa.
The DA will continue to support reforms under Minister Schreiber that prioritise clean governance, efficient administration and the protection of South Africa’s borders.
South Africans deserve a Home Affairs department that is secure, efficient and free from corruption, and this report is an important further step in that direction.