Fraudulent marriages and life partnerships have emerged as key tools in immigration fraud, frequently involving foreign ‘pastors and prophets’ who enter SA on visitor visas and later form sham unions to obtain Permanent Residence Permits.

This is according to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), whose progress report to President Cyril Ramaphosa sheds further light on how these deceptive marriages are used to secure permanent residency in the country. 

The report highlights collusion between corrupt officials and religious figures in arranging ‘marriages of convenience’ and fraudulent life partnerships.

IoL reports that it follows an interim report released in February, which alleged that the immigration system had effectively been sold to the highest bidder.

Officials earning under R25 000 per month were reportedly receiving more than R16.3m in direct deposits.

Investigators estimate that more than 630 000 foreign nationals may be residing in SA unlawfully as a result of these schemes.

The probe began after the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) received 2 557 study visa applications from Nigerian nationals between 2021 and 2023.

It uncovered cases such as a foreign pastor who entered the country on a visitor’s visa in 2002 and later entered into a life partnership with a local woman.

Further findings revealed an organised operation in which syndicates obtained the identity documents of SA women and used them to marry undocumented foreign nationals – often without the women’s knowledge or consent.

IoL notes that the SIU has referred several of these cases to the NPA for consideration of criminal charges against those involved.

In response, the SIU has recommended that the DHA strengthen its internal controls by vetting all employees, integrating systems with the Department of Labour, and conducting thorough quality assurance checks before issuing any visas.

Full IoL report