Home Affairs is moving swiftly in its efforts to uproot rampant corruption within the department, with the latest dismissal of six officials for various offences, including fraud and corruption.

The Daily Maverick reports that this latest string of dismissals brings the number of officials fired for misconduct since July 2024 up to 33. 

The department yesterday said that of the officials fired in the past year, eight have already been convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to 18 years, while criminal prosecution of another 19 officials is under way.

‘The speed at which Home Affairs, in collaboration with the SIU (Special Investigating Unit), is clearing out corruption from our midst demonstrates that swift progress can be made in the fight against this scourge. I have made it clear to the department that delays will not be tolerated and that we will not rest until every last corrupt official has been fired,’ Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said.

Schreiber said widespread corruption within the department was often perpetrated and facilitated by syndicates embedded in the department.

The Minister said that through the anti-corruption forum, the SIU, the Department of Home Affairs, the Border Management Authority (BMA), the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation and the NPA were actively working together to catch corrupt officials and rid the department and BMA of corruption.

Full Daily Maverick report