South Africa’s Home Affairs fire six employees over fraud and corruption

By Mark Ogagan

South Africa’s Ministry of Home Affairs has dismissed six employees with immediate effect over a range of offences, including fraud and corruption.

The clean-up operation forms part of a coordinated drive between various government departments to root out crime within the state department.

Since July 2024, 33 employees have been fired, with six other officials issued with final warnings.

Moreover, eight officials have been convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from four months to 18 years.

The Home Affairs ministry said in addition to the latest dismissals, 19 officials from the department now face ongoing criminal prosecutions.

These developments follow the recent launch of the Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum designed to strengthen coordination between Home Affairs, the Border Management Authority (BMA), the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber (Pictured), has hailed the action as a sign of his department’s no-nonsense stance on corruption.

Schreiber praised inter-departmental efforts for what he’s described as the act of “washing the stain of corruption and state capture off of Home Affairs”.