South Africa cracks down on Home Affairs corruption, dismisses officials and makes arrests

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber told Parliament that the department has intensified its anti‑corruption drive. Seven employees have been dismissed in 2026 and at least four people arrested, including a senior immigration officer accused of demanding payment for documents and a border official who took a bribe to endorse a passport.

Since April 2023 the ministry has referred 212 cases to law enforcement, resulting in convictions that total 97 years of imprisonment for eight officials. Over the past three financial years the department dismissed 114 staff members and prosecuted a passport‑fraud syndicate with 27 arrests.

Schreiber said the multi‑disciplinary approach – involving the Counter‑Corruption unit, SAPS and specialized detectives – will continue to target officials and members of the public who pay for illicit services.