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BusinessLive reports that MPs heard on Tuesday that an estimated 45,000 fraudulent visas were issued by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) between 2014 and June 2021 and the figure could be higher after a deep-dive investigation has been conducted.
The provisional figure was provided by Cassius Lubisi, a former director-general in the presidency and chair of a review panel appointed by DHA Minister Aaron Motsoaledi in February last year to review all visas and permits issued by the department from 2004 to the end of 2020 to identify irregularities. Lubisi briefed parliament’s home affairs committee on the panel’s findings and recommendations, noting that there was a persistent and fraudulent “onslaught” on the department by applicants for permits and visas. The panel has recommended that a multidisciplinary investigating team be appointed to conduct a thorough analysis and forensic investigation into individual permit and visa approvals. Lubisi said this could result in certain visas being withdrawn, people being deported and criminal prosecution or disciplinary action instituted against DHA officials where fraud was detected. Lubisi described how “unscrupulous” DHA officials had created fake users on the system to issue fraudulent documents and how there was a deliberate bypassing of controls to manipulate visa and permit applications. Evidence of criminal wrongdoing has already been handed over to the Hawks and is now under investigation. Six officials were dismissed last year, four are on suspension and others face disciplinary action.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Linda Ensor at BusinessLive
- Read too, Home Affairs granting retirement visas to people younger than 25, at SowetanLive
- And also, Foreigners obtain study visas in a day, task team finds, at News24
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page