SIU Exposes Home Affairs Visa Fraud Syndicate Funnelling Millions to Officials
- The Special Investigating Unit revealed that foreign nationals used fraudulent study visas to run illegal businesses, generating millions of rand
- Kickbacks from these enterprises were paid to Home Affairs adjudicators through e-wallets, cash deposits, and accounts registered to officials' spouses
- The SIU has referred 278 cases to the NPA and recommended visa revocations and deportations for hundreds of foreign nationals
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SOUTH AFRICA — The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has exposed a sophisticated corruption network inside the Department of Home Affairs, revealing that fraudulent study visas have been used to establish illegal businesses generating millions of rand across the country.
According to TimesLIVE, the SIU presented its findings to Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Higher Education during a session focused on university investigations. Officials told the committee that foreign nationals obtained study visas through deception and, rather than enrolling at academic institutions, used their fraudulently acquired legal status to set up commercial enterprises.
How the visa fraud scheme worked
Applicants submitted forged documentation to secure approval, including falsified medical reports, fabricated criminal record clearances, and counterfeit acceptance letters. Many of those letters were traced back to colleges that were either unregistered, non-existent, or entirely uninvolved in the applications. Home Affairs adjudicators compounded the fraud by deliberately failing to verify the submitted documents before granting entry.
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Once the businesses were operational, profits were reportedly channelled back to those same adjudicators in the form of kickbacks. Payments were structured to avoid detection, concealed through e-wallet transfers, cash deposits, and bank accounts registered in the names of officials' spouses.
Scope of the investigation
The probe, conducted under Proclamation 154 of 2024, uncovered a range of additional abuses beyond the study visa syndicate. Investigators found cases of 21-year-olds fraudulently obtaining retirement visas, manipulated DNA test results used to qualify for permanent residency, and blank corporate visas that were exploited outside their intended purpose.
To date, the SIU has submitted 278 criminal referrals to the National Prosecuting Authority, seven disciplinary referrals targeting Home Affairs officials, and 205 administrative referrals recommending visa revocations and deportations. The SIU confirmed that investigations into the syndicate are continuing.
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Spaza shop fronting probed
In a related article, Briefly News reported on the recent findings from Parliament regarding spaza shop funding in South Africa, particularly in relation to foreign nationals receiving grants. The investigation revealed that despite significant public concern, no funds have been disbursed to foreign nationals, emphasizing the importance of due diligence in protecting state resources.
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