Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber says 212 cases involving officials accused of serious misconduct have been referred to law enforcement for criminal investigation and possible prosecution since April 2023.
The figures were revealed in a written parliamentary reply following a question from Thalente Kubheka on corruption-related arrests and dismissals within the department.
Schreiber said the department continues to work closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure that implicated officials are held accountable.
He highlighted the introduction of a multi-disciplinary approach through the Counter Corruption and Security Services unit in the 2023/2024 financial year, aimed at tackling fraud linked to documents such as passports.
This intervention led to the arrest of a suspected kingpin and 26 others in September 2023, with investigations expanding across provinces and resulting in further arrests involving officials, South African citizens and foreign nationals.
According to the minister, 27 officials have been dismissed in connection with these cases, with eight convicted and sentenced to a combined total of 97 years in prison.
He added that convictions range between four and 18 years, with some offenders also ordered to repay illicit gains.
In addition, six officials were convicted in the previous two financial years for offences including the sale of birth certificates and the issuing of fraudulent death notices.
Schreiber also cited a case where an official was sentenced to three years’ direct imprisonment after attempting to bribe an investigator to halt a visa fraud probe.
Overall, the department has dismissed 114 officials over the past three financial years, reflecting ongoing efforts to clamp down on corruption within Home Affairs.
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