Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announces the cancellation of over 2,000 study visas linked to internal syndicates, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat corruption within South Africa's immigration system.
Image: File pic
THE Department of Home Affairs has confirmed the identification of more than 2,000 study visas that were fraudulently issued through internal syndicates operating within the department.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber made the announcement on Monday.
“Administrative processes are now underway to cancel these visas, and we will also ringfence any subsequent visas obtained by these same individuals to ensure that all irregularly-obtained documents are cancelled and that perpetrators are deported or prosecuted as required,” said Schreiber.
This action is part of a broader investigation into serious maladministration in visa issuance, which President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised under Proclamation 154 of 2024. The investigation covers the period from October 2004 to February 2024.
Schreiber elaborated on the findings, revealing how a small group of officials exploited manual processes and systemic loopholes within the visa system.
“By exploiting loopholes and the manual nature of visa processes, a mere handful of people could inflict all this damage on our country,” he said.
In response to these revelations, the department is taking decisive steps to ensure that irregularly obtained documents are withdrawn. Individuals who have unlawfully benefited from these processes will be deported or prosecuted as necessary.
SIU Probe
Earlier, acting SIU head Leonard Lekgetho commented on the investigation, stating that it had uncovered systemic corruption within Home Affairs. He described the immigration system as having been “treated as a marketplace, where permits and visas were sold to the highest bidder.”
The SIU previously disclosed that officials earning less than R25,000 per month received millions of rand in direct deposits linked to visa approvals. Financial gains exceeding R181 million have been traced to beneficiaries of fraudulent visa applications.
The cancellation of the study visas is part of ongoing administrative and disciplinary processes aimed at restoring integrity to South Africa’s immigration system.