Over 2,000 study visas have been cancelled following a Home Affairs fraud investigation. Picture Credit: Goodthingsguy
By Aisha Zardad
South Africa – The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that over 2,000 study visas were fraudulently issued through internal syndicates operating within the department.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced the findings on Monday. “Administrative processes are now underway to cancel these visas, and we will also ringfence any subsequent visas obtained by these same individuals to ensure that all irregularly obtained documents are revoked and that perpetrators are deported or prosecuted as required,” Schreiber said.
The measure forms part of a broader probe into maladministration within visa processing authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa under Proclamation 154 of 2024. The probe covers the period from October 2004 to February 2024.
Schreiber explained how a small group of officials exploited manual processes and systemic loopholes within the visa system.
“By exploiting loopholes and the manual nature of visa processes, a mere handful of people could inflict all this damage on our country,” he said.
Acting head of the Special Investigating Unit, Leonard Lekgetho, said the investigation had revealed systemic corruption within Home Affairs. He described the immigration system as having been “treated as a marketplace, where permits and visas were sold to the highest bidder.”
Officials earning less than R25,000 per month are reported to have received millions in direct deposits tied to visa approvals, with total financial gains exceeding R181 million traced to beneficiaries of fraudulent applications.
The cancellation of these study visas forms part of ongoing administrative and disciplinary measures to restore integrity to South Africa’s immigration system. Individuals who unlawfully benefited from the scheme will be deported or prosecuted as necessary.
