Home Affairs looking to revoke 2,000 fraudulent visas: Schreiber

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber says they are looking into processes to revoke over 2,000 fraudulent visas.

This follows a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigation focused on recurring schemes involving document fraud, visa and work permits, manipulation and facilitation networks enabling unauthorised entry into South Africa.

Schreiber says since April last year, 20 Home Affairs officials have been dismissed and 16 others suspended following allegations of serious maladministration within the Home Affairs Department.

Briefing the media in Pretoria, Schreiber says they’ve had over 55 dismissals since July 2024, 20 of them since April last year.

“We also have 275 criminal referrals out of this work, 111 investigations that have been closed. We have a number of disciplinary processes that are still live and we’re looking at administrative processes to potentially revoke over 2,000 visas that may have come fraudulently out of this kind of work. So, absolutely, the accountability is happening. We are enforcing very serious consequences for people involved in thus but we’re also changing the system,” says Schreiber.

Video| Minister Schreiber and SIU brief media on Home Affairs corruption probe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5doFmeTSfhI

Additionally, the SIU’s interim report exposed an over R16 million visa corruption scandal involving self-proclaimed prophets Shepherd Bushiri, Timothy Omotoso and Kudakwashe Mpofu.

This involved a fraudulent permanent residence and immigration permit scheme.

The investigation authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa was triggered by whistleblower information.

The probe revealed how weaknesses in the immigration system were exploited for personal enrichment.

SIU Head Leonard Lekgetho say the report uncovered systemic corruption within the department, where Home Affairs officials allegedly sold visas and permits for bribes.

“Officials entrusted with safeguarding the integrity of the Department of Home Affairs, their position into a profit-making scheme, while external factors including Prophet Shepard Bushiri, Mr. Mpofu and Nigerian rapper Prince Obioma exploited fabricated documentation and manipulated system weakness to secure permanent residence,” says Lekgetho

Pastor Timothy Omotoso
Pastor Timothy Omotoso’s modus operandi was fundamentally built on fraud and misrepresentation to gain entry into, and subsequent residence in, South Africa. His initial entry was secured through a fraudulently obtained work permit, issued in a country… pic.twitter.com/RaNHFyK2Nj

— Special Investigating Unit (SIU) (@RSASIU) February 23, 2026