A corruption investigation into South Africa’s immigration system has uncovered allegations that a former senior Home Affairs administrator enriched herself through a fraudulent visa approval scheme, allegedly using the proceeds to build a luxury residence in Limpopo.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU), acting on authority granted by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2024, has been probing irregularities within the Department of Home Affairs’ visa processing system. The inquiry followed whistleblower reports suggesting that foreign nationals were entering the country using improperly issued documentation.
According to findings cited by the SIU, the former official approved 426 visa applications between 2021 and 2023. Investigators allege that approximately 67% of those approvals were fraudulent. The unit documented at least R1.3 million in suspicious payments linked to the official, whose government salary ranged between R25,000 and R30,000 per month.
The SIU stated that the discrepancy between declared income and property holdings points to corrupt enrichment through abuse of official position. Media reports indicate that the official constructed a high-value property in her home village of Setlaboswane in Ga-Masemola, including upgrades to access roads.
Systemic corruption prompts shift to digital visa processing
The investigation has also highlighted broader systemic vulnerabilities. The SIU reported that some officials allegedly received payments ranging from R500 to R3,000 via electronic wallets to approve applications. In certain instances, cash was allegedly concealed within application files to evade detection.
Acting SIU head Leonard Lekgetho described the immigration system as having been treated “as a marketplace,” where permits and visas were effectively sold to the highest bidder. He added that external actors exploited the system to secure fraudulent documentation.
Among individuals named in the broader investigation are Prophet Shepherd Bushiri, Kudakwashe Mpofu and Nigerian musician Prince Danial Obioma, who are alleged to have benefited from irregular permits. No findings of guilt have been made public in relation to these individuals.
In response to the investigation, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced plans to accelerate the transition toward the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system. The digital platform, unveiled in September 2025 and piloted during the G20 Johannesburg Summit, is intended to eliminate manual visa processing and reduce opportunities for corruption.
Schreiber said all tourist visa processing conducted abroad would be transferred to the ETA platform, with future expansion to study visas and additional categories by 2029. The department also intends to expand facial recognition capabilities at major airports and land border posts.
The ETA forms part of a broader initiative to establish an “intelligent population register” supporting South Africa’s digital identity strategy.
Authorities argue that digitisation will strengthen oversight and close loopholes that enabled fraudulent approvals. The SIU’s investigation remains ongoing.
