Pretoria - Drastic measures were being implemented to tighten the noose around corrupt home affairs officials, Minister Malusi Gigaba said on Friday.
“Going forward, drastic counter-corruption measures will be sustained, with more arrests expected as a result of successful investigations conducted by our unit, working in collaboration with various law enforcement agencies,” Gigaba told reporters in Pretoria.
“To consolidate our efforts, I’m launching a counter-corruption project - Operation Bvisa Masina - (IsiVenda for ‘throw out the rot’). We are bent on cleaning out the rot. There is no place for corrupt officials at home affairs. We have room only for an official that is service-oriented, professional, competent, ethical and incorruptible.”
He said between April and July this year, investigations have led to the arrest of eight officials and three civilians.
Several other fraud cases have been finalised in the courts with home affairs officials being jailed.
“We are making breakthroughs also in the integrated ongoing law enforcement projects,” said Gigaba.
“There are 45 cases pending criminal investigation at Immigration. An internal disciplinary process is underway, the officials had violated the permitting process.”
He said the anti-corruption drive was also targeting foreign nationals involved in human trafficking and violating immigration laws.
Gigaba said a task team was set up to tackle the Marabastad refugee reception office which is often fingered for blatant corruption.
“There is an integrated multi-disciplinary response team dealing specifically with Marabastad. It consists of home affairs, the State Security Agency, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and the SA Revenue Service. The team was set up to attend to challenges at Marabastad in a holistic manner,” said Gigaba.
He said 30 officials have been dismissed from the Marabastad center in Pretoria.
“We will do all in our power to uproot the twin evil of fraud and corruption within the public service. Our officials and persons found guilty of unethical, criminal conduct will continue facing - without fail - the full might of the law.”
On Monday, the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria granted bail to a home affairs assistant director for immigration affairs, Elisha Nkhabu Matsipa, who was arrested for corruption, while his “client” was remanded.
Magistrate Martin van Wyk ruled that Elisha Nkhabu Matsipa be released on R1000 bail, while Pakistani national Wahdat Hussain, 30, who fraudulently obtained a South African passport, identity document and a marriage certificate “did not come close to making a case for being released on bail”.
Matsipa, 44, was arrested last week after he allegedly assisted Hussain to secure South African identity documents.
Preliminary police investigations had revealed that Matsipa received an amount of R23,000 from Hussain.
Matsipa and Hussain are scheduled to meet again in court next month.
ANA