Monday, 23 February 2026

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) notes, with concern, the damning findings released by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which expose two decades of corruption, fraud, and maladministration inside the Department of Home Affairs. The report confirms that Home Affairs has been systematically captured by criminal syndicates operating from within the state itself.

The SIU’s findings reveal that more than 2 000 study visas were fraudulently issued and that at least 20 officials have been dismissed following internal disciplinary action. Over a 20-year period, corrupt officials allegedly collaborated with intermediaries and external agents to sell visas, permanent residence permits, and other immigration documents in exchange for large bribes and unexplained financial deposits reaching millions.

The EFF is particularly outraged by the findings relating to the fraudulent facilitation of permanent residence permits for predatory and criminal religious figures such as Shepherd Bushiri and Timothy Omotoso. The SIU has reportedly uncovered that Bushiri’s permanent residence application was processed irregularly, allegedly facilitated by a Home Affairs official linked to his own church network.

This represents a blatant abuse of administrative power, where religious influence and proximity to officials were weaponised to bypass lawful procedures. Bushiri, who fled South Africa while facing serious criminal charges, should never have benefited from a compromised immigration system in the first place. That he was able to secure documentation through irregular channels is an indictment on the state.

Equally disturbing are revelations relating to Omotoso, whose presence in South Africa and interactions with Home Affairs processes have long raised serious public concerns. This is the same man who abused his church members, got away with the sexual abuse of young women in our country, and the NPA failed to prosecute due to incompetence. When immigration systems are bent to shield individuals facing serious allegations, it ceases to be administrative misconduct and becomes political protection of impunity.

These cases confirm that corruption at Home Affairs has had direct consequences for justice, public safety, and national credibility. While ordinary Africans,  particularly coming from war torn and failing  countries queue for months in humiliating conditions, politically connected individuals were fast-tracked and shielded. This dual system fuels social tension and xenophobic resentment, not because migrants are the problem, but because corruption distorts fairness and transparency.

The EFF holds that the ANC political leadership which presided over this decay cannot escape accountability. The rot within Home Affairs did not emerge overnight but flourished under the watch of successive administrations that failed to digitise systems, enforce border control, and insulate immigration processes from criminal networks.

We demand immediate criminal prosecutions of all implicated officials and external collaborators through the National Prosecuting Authority, including asset forfeiture proceedings against those who benefitted financially. The investigation must not end with junior officials. Senior managers, former Director-Generals, and political office bearers who presided over this culture must be investigated for dereliction of duty and possible complicity.

The EFF reiterates that corruption, not migration, is the primary threat to national stability. When state institutions are captured and documentation is sold to the highest bidder, public confidence collapses and those genuinely looking to go through necessary processes suffer the consequences while others manipulate the system.

ISSUED BY ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS

Sinawo Thambo (National Spokesperson) 072 629 7422

Thembi Msane (National Spokesperson) 061 467 8169

Andiswa Madikazi (Parliament Media Liason) 069 516 4924

Thato Lebyane (Media Inquiries) 078 563 1581