South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister, Leon Schreiber, has outlined a series of measures aimed at curbing fraudulent activities in visa issuance and addressing the broader issue of corruption within his department. Schreiber’s statements came in response to parliamentary questions from ATM leader Vuyo Zungula and EFF MP Thapelo Mogale, highlighting the ongoing efforts to reform immigration processes.
In his response to Zungula, who inquired about the department’s strategies to address visa fraud and visa shopping, Schreiber emphasized the establishment of a dedicated Counter Corruption Unit. This unit is tasked with managing and preventing fraudulent activities related to visa issuance.
To address concerns over visa shopping—where individuals manipulate visa categories to obtain permanent residency and create backlogs—Schreiber revealed that the department is making changes to the current system to better identify and manage different types of visa applications. This concession is designed to assist all nationalities affected by backlogs and to streamline the processing of visa, waiver, and appeal applications.
On the topic of transferring valuable skills from foreign nationals to South African employees, Schreiber noted that the intra-company transfer visa category includes a mandatory skills transfer plan. The Department of Employment and Labour oversees the monitoring and evaluation of these plans at the company level, ensuring that skills are effectively transferred to local workers.
Addressing queries from Mogale regarding the Lubisi report, which uncovered serious corruption within the visa and permit issuance process, Schreiber confirmed that significant steps have been taken to address the issues highlighted. Following a review by a ministerial committee, a multi-disciplinary task team (MDTT) was appointed to implement the report’s recommendations.
The MDTT focuses on 25 priority areas and refers identified issues to law enforcement agencies for criminal investigations and to the department’s Labour Relations Unit for possible disciplinary actions. As of June 30, Schreiber reported that 11 cases had been referred to law enforcement and 23 officials were referred to the Labour Relations Unit for issues highlighted by the Lubisi report. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is also involved in probing the alleged corrupt practices related to visa issuance, as mandated by a Presidential Proclamation dated February 16, 2024. The SIU’s role includes investigating serious maladministration within the department.
Schreiber stressed that the MDTT’s work is thorough and evidence-based, ensuring that investigations lead to convictions and can withstand an appeals process. This meticulous approach is part of the department’s broader effort to root out corruption and improve the integrity of South Africa’s immigration system. With these measures in place, the Department of Home Affairs aims to restore public trust and ensure that the visa and permit issuance process is fair and transparent.
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