Home Affairs and SIU work to end corruption at SA borders

The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, and the Head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), Advocate Andy Mothibi, on Tuesday launched the Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum (BMIACF) in Pretoria.

This initiative reportedly forms a key part of the intensified and coordinated effort to clamp down on corruption at both South African borders and the Home Affairs Department.

Leaders from the Department of Home Affairs, Border Management Authority (BMA), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and civil society organisations were all present at the launch.

Speaking at the launch, Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber noted that the forum’s launch is just a formality as they have already achieved important successes in curbing border corruption.

“In recent months, we have seen some of the most decisive action taken to date against corruption in our country,”

Between July 2024 and February 2025, Schreiber noted that 27 officials were dismissed from the Department of Home Affairs for a range of offences including fraud, corruption and sexual misconduct.

Previously, the department announced that 18 of these officials were dismissed in November last year and, since then, another nine officials have been dismissed.

Eight officials have reportedly already been convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to 18 years, while criminal prosecution of another 19 officials is underway.

But, the minister says these numbers are likely to increase once appeals that are currently ongoing are completed.

In one notable case, a Pakistani National, Afran Ahmed, who charged foreign nationals R45,000 per South African passport, was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment in the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court, Gauteng.

In addition, the Border Management Authority has dismissed 10 officials for corruption, and one for aiding and abetting over the same period.

Another 45 BMA cases are at various stages in the disciplinary process and could also result in further dismissals.

The minister says in one of the cases, a new precedent was set that allows the appointment of external chairpersons for disciplinary hearings to enable more impartial disciplinary processes.

“This is a major victory, and it is the model that government must now follow in all that we do – precisely because it offers a powerful new avenue to prevent members of corrupt syndicates from protecting each other.” added Schreiber

Schreiber says the Department of Home Affairs is also concluding the appointment of a permanent Deputy Director-General for Human Resources.

” – it is my expectation that this person will further intensify our quest to rid Home Affairs of bad apples.”