Legitimate asylum seekers are being sidelined in favour of these people who are able to pay massive bribes.`
A crackdown on corruption in refugee centers countrywide is underway, as the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigations (Hawks), conducted raids on several home affairs offices.
It was a crackdown not only on illegal immigrants, but also on those facilitating them being illegally, Ayesha Kajee, political analyst and research fellow at Afrasid, said.
This was specifically pointing a finger at home affairs, which itself had commissioned this investigation after the proclamation issued by the president, she said.
“We have a responsibility to admit refugees and to protect and give them the appropriate status, but because of a large degree of corruption, many people who do apply for that status do not qualify. There is a level of criminality both within home affairs and among syndicates operating in collusion with the department,” Kajee said.
“Legitimate asylum seekers are being sidelined in favour of these people who are able to pay massive bribes. And some of them are criminals. The country has been trying to eradicate criminality at home affairs since state capture,” she added.
Home affairs officials exposed
SIU said it was alleged home affairs officials were delaying the finalisation of refugee permits to “facilitate bogus asylum seekers”.
SIU head Advocate Andy Mothibi alluded to the system’s loopholes, but said the department had done a lot in closing those.
“We would like to see the process redefined. We would like to see checks and balances in the process. We would like to see those who are involved in putting control measures in place so that we stop this from happening again,” he said.
Ngqabutho Mabhena, executive director at African Diaspora Forum, said corruption at the department of home affairs meant deserving refugees were now pushed to the end of the line.

“People who bribe their way don’t necessarily need protection. At times these are people who did not run away from their countries for persecution, they use asylum documents for other things,” he said.
“If someone comes to our country seeking protection, they are at the risk of being arrested or sent back because they don’t have money,” Mabena said.
SIU raids took place in Gauteng, Limpopo, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Kaizer Kganyago, SIU spokesperson, said the action followed a tip-off from a whistle-blower.
Bribes
Information from the whistle-blower suggested home affairs officials worked with syndicates to duplicate application status files applied for in other offices and process them for a fee.
Officials also allegedly bypass immigration systems to enable foreign nationals who have entered the country illegally to remain and acquire permits illegally.
An asylum seeker admitted applicants had to bribe officials to get documents. He said they have to pay from R4 000 to “get noticed”.
“Even if you can have all the proper documentation needed and follow process, you will wait forever to get attended to. Money speaks at home affairs. Money gets you in front or else you suffer,” he said.
Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said corruption was committed by officials with foreign nationals “who don’t deserve to be in SA but have a lot of money to bribe”.
ActionSA said it had taken the government too long to finally see that “South Africa, and its appallingly porous borders, has an immigration crisis”.
“Refugee centres are the epicentre of fraud and corruption, and we hope the full weight of the criminal justice system will work tirelessly in bringing to book those found to have acted fraudulently,” the party said. V.5373

One of the highlighted topics: Critical Skills Visa.

- Key Insight: Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast track to working in South Afr...
- This matter relates to critical skills visa and its broader implications.
- Individuals are advised to seek professional guidance.

Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast trac V.6139
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One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, became a victim of identity theft in 2012 when fraudulent transactions occurred, using her personal details.

-The Pretoria High Court found that the department of home affairs had violated constitutional rights without due process.
-Only half of Lawyers for Human Rights` test group has been unblocked, while 385 000 identities remain blocked nationwide.
-LHR appeals extension, urges affected people to seek help now.

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) are intensifying pressure on the department of home affairs over the national ID-blocking crisis, accusing the state of acting too slowly to unblock qualifying individuals despite a landmark court ruling.

In January last year, the Pretoria High Court found that the department`s practice of blocking IDs without due process was unlawful and unconstitutional. One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, a Swati citizen and South African permanent resident since 1998, fell victim to identity theft in 2012 when fraudsters used her personal details.

 V.6133
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6128
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6129
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A Washington state mother and her 6-year-old son have been released after spending more than three weeks in US immigration detention due to a brief trip to Canada and a small paperwork mistake, her attorney told CNN on Saturday.

Sarah Shaw, a New Zealand citizen who has lived legally in the US since she arrived in 2021, was detained at the Blaine, Washington, Customs and Border Protection checkpoint when returning home after dropping her two oldest children off at the Vancouver airport for a flight to visit their grandparents in New Zealand. Shaw, 33, chose the flight out of Vancouver because it was direct and she didn`t want her children to have to navigate a layover alone, her attorney Minda Thorward, told CNN.

 V.6130
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On 22 July 2025, the Gauteng High Court dismissed Sitrusrand Boerdery`s review of the Department of Employment and Labour`s refusal to issue a Working Conditions and Salary Benchmarking Certificate, an essential precondition for obtaining corporate visas under the Immigration Act.

Acting Judge Kekana AJ held that the Department`s decision was lawful, rational and procedurally fair. This judgment illustrates how businesses can - and must - structure their corporate visa applications to meet statutory requirements, and how legal practitioners should prepare robust review challenges when administrative authorities decline to recommend foreign-work permits.

 V.6131
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The United States could forfeit an estimated 9.4 billion dollars in visitor spending over the next three years following the introduction of a new 250 dollars `visa integrity fee,` according to industry groups, who warn the policy risks undermining tourism and costing thousands of jobs.
The United States’ decision to introduce a 250 dollars `visa integrity fee` on international visitors has triggered sharp criticism from the global tourism industry, with officials warning that the measure could deter millions of travellers and cost the U.S. economy billions.
The 250dollar `visa integrity fee,` part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed on July 4, 2025, will take effect later this year. According to immigration law firm Envoy Global, it applies to all nonimmigrant visa holders which include students, tourists, temporary workers, and business visitors particularly from African countries. V.6132
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6127
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1. Right to Legal Representation•You have the right to consult with a legal representative.•Contact an immigration practitioner, legal aid clinic, or attorney urgently.•Do not sign any documents without understanding them fully. 2. Section 34 of the Immigration Act•You must be brought to court with 48 hours to confirm arrest but you can remain locked up very long as courts figure out what to do with you •If you`re found to be illegally in South Africa, you may be detained for up to 30 days (extendable by a magistrate) pending deportation.•BUT this cannot happen arbitrarily. You must be informed of your rights, and Home Affairs must follow due process.- becomes a nightmare , you could lose your job , business , place to stay V.6121
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Driving for Bolt, Uber, Mr D, or Checkers Sixty60?If you`re undocumented, you`re risking more than just your income.The Risks if You`re Not Legal: - Vehicle impoundment - Heavy fines - Arrest & deportation - Permanent bans from working in SA V.6122
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