Cape Town — To root out corruption in its department, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) dismissed 18 officials, effective immediately.
In a statement, the DHA said 18 officials were dismissed for a range of issues including fraud, corruption and sexual harassment. Another four officials were issued with final warnings, two will carry a one and three-month suspension respectively, while two others received written warnings.
“The dismissals and disciplinary action follow the conclusion of all mandated human resource and appeals processes by the Department,” the Department’s spokesperson, Siya Qoza, said.
The department revealed the reasons for the respective dismissals:
- Irregular solemnisation and registration of marriages – 6
- Irregular granting of Identity Documents (ID) – 4
- Irregular processing of birth certificates – 3
- Irregular processing of passports – 1
- Irregular approval of visa applications – 1
- Irregular extension of asylum seeker permits – 1
- Irregular deactivation of file – 1
- Sexual harassment – 1
Home Affairs dismissed 18 officials, effective immediately, for a range of offences #TeamHomeAffairs #DHAServiceDelivery pic.twitter.com/Ctu6vcPotS
— HomeAffairsSA 🇿🇦 (@HomeAffairsSA) November 20, 2024
The DHA stated further that the dismissal and disciplining of officials was part of an extensive effort to clamp down on corruption, fraud and maladministration. The dismissals are part of serious convictions that reflect the intensification of cooperation between Home Affairs, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the Hawks.
In cases of prosecutable offences, the dockets will be referred for criminal prosecution, while Home Affairs will continue to work on measures to recover ill-gotten gains from perpetrators.
“These dismissals send an unambiguous message that the days where acts of fraud and corruption are committed with impunity against Home Affairs are over. Dismissals and prosecutions are set to continue ramping up until we have squeezed crime and corruption out of the system, Minister Leon Schreiber said.
He thanked law enforcement agencies for supporting the Department in its efforts, and the committed management members who shared a commitment to zero tolerance.
“Those who cheapen and defraud our country are learning the hard way that there is nowhere to hide from a reinvigorated Home Affairs that is committed to upholding the rule of law and delivering dignity,” he concluded.
Home Affairs has, with immediate effect, dismissed 18 officials from offices across the country for a range of offences including fraud, corruption, and sexual harassment.
A further 4 officials were issued with final written warnings – 2 of which also had their salaries docked… pic.twitter.com/AnjxnDDAID
— Leon Schreiber (@Leon_Schreib) November 20, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
