JOHANNESBURG - South Africa is being sold, one permit at a time.
This is the disturbing revelation coming from the Special Investigating Unit's interim report into corruption at Home Affairs.
The SIU has uncovered that some officials turned their positions into profit-making schemes, raking in more than R16-million.
At the same time, foreign nationals who gained fraudulent entry made more than R181-million.
The interim report also highlights how some controversial religious leaders fraudulently gained entry into the country
READ: SIU investigation uncovers R16,3m paid in bribes for visas and permits
Home Affairs has instituted disciplinary processes and fired 58 officials so far.
The findings have made one thing clear: South Africa’s immigration system has been treated as a commodity.
Permits and visas were sold, traded, and laundered, and 275 criminal referrals have been made to the NPA.
The SIU will complete its investigations in September.
- eNCA Senior reporter Silindelo Sebata has more.