Home Affairs fires 18 officials

South African Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, has announced the termination of 18 officials at various Department of Home Affairs (DHA) offices across the country for incidents including fraud, corruption, and sexual harassment.
The minister announced the development via a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, 20 November 2024. The 18 officials were dismissed with immediate effect.
“A further four officials were issued with final written warnings — two of which also had their salaries docked — while another two officials received written warnings,” wrote Schreiber.
“The dismissal and disciplining of errant officials are the result of the further intensification of our clampdown on corruption, fraud and maladministration.”
He added that the move highlights intensified collaboration between Home Affairs, the Special Investigating Unit, and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks).
The minister provided a breakdown of the reasons for dismissal in his post:
- Six individuals were dismissed for irregular solemnisation and registration of marriages
- Four for the irregular granting of ID documents
- Three for irregularly processing birth certificates
- One for irregularly processing passports
- One for irregularly processing visa applications
- One for the irregular extension of asylum seeker permits
- One for sexual harassment
- One for irregularly deactivating a file
“Where prosecutable offences have been committed, the dockets will be referred for criminal prosecution,” added Schreiber.
“These dismissals send a clear and unambiguous message that the days where acts of fraud and corruption are committed with impunity against Home Affairs are over.”
He said prosecutions and dismissals relating to illegal activity within Home Affairs’ ranks are set to continue ramping up.
“Those who cheapen and defraud our country are learning the hard way that there is nowhere to hide from a reinvigorated Home Affairs that is committed to upholding the rule of law and delivering dignity,” added Schreiber.
Since he was appointed minister, Schreiber has been on a mission to root out nefarious individuals within the DHA’s ranks.
In mid-October 2024, the DHA announced the finalisation of 31 disciplinary cases between July and September 2024, some resulting in criminal prosecution and dismissal.
It noted that individuals faced charges of violating the Citizen and Immigration Acts and irregularly recruiting new staff. Eight of the 31 cases came from the Free State, with six from KwaZulu-Natal.
“We have zero tolerance for unethical conduct or corruption,” said Schreiber.
“As our accelerated action against errant conduct demonstrates, officials who fail to heed this message will soon find themselves out of Home Affairs and on their way to prison.”
Schreiber believes digitising and automating the DHA’s paper-based, manual processes will significantly reduce fraud within the department.
He said the opportunity for fraud within the department comes from human intervention in its processes.
“It is only possible for someone to steal an ID number or engage in fraudulent activity like swapping out photos because the system has gaps that allow for human intervention,” the minister said.
“Until such time as Home Affairs has been transformed into a digital-first department, these abuses will keep happening and ‘the system will remain offline’.”
He also hopes that digitally transforming the department will allow people to access various DHA services without having to visit a branch.