South Africa crackdowns on graft at borders, immigration system

Such misconduct includes colluding with travelers or third parties to evade duties and taxes, facilitating the movement of illicit goods, soliciting bribes for routine services and fraudulently issuing travel or immigration documents, he said.

In February, the SIU said South Africa’s immigration system had been treated as “a marketplace,” where permits and visas were sold to the highest bidder through corrupt networks involving officials and external actors.

The Department of Home Affairs said at the time that it had identified more than 2,000 study visas fraudulently issued through such syndicates and that administrative processes were underway to cancel them.

Rooting out corruption in the immigration system is also part of the government’s comprehensive approach to migration management adopted in June. President Cyril Ramaphosa said when announcing the measures that the government would strengthen border security, crack down on violations of immigration laws and continue efforts to eliminate corruption in the immigration system.

Picture credit: The Sunday Morning Herald