“On Monday, 28 July 2025, the Department of Home Affairs dismissed a further five officials, with immediate effect, for offences ranging from fraud to sexual assault. The total number of officials dismissed between July 2024 and July 2025 now stands at 38,” the Ministry of Home Affairs said.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry said eight officials have already been convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to 18 years, while the criminal prosecution of another 19 is underway.

“These dismissals follow on the crackdown on a passport syndicate in Durban just last month, where two officials and three members of the public were arrested. These results demonstrate the growing success of Home Affairs in dealing with criminal syndicates both inside and outside the department,” said the Ministry.

Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber said the days of defrauding the department are over.

“In just 12 months, we have already rid Home Affairs of 38 crooked and delinquent officials. I repeat my warning to anyone involved in corruption: the days of defrauding this department or committing acts of sexual harassment or abuse while relying on long drawn-out disciplinary processes, are over.”

The Minister thanked the department’s diligent officials, including those involved in accelerating disciplinary processes, who are playing a critical role “in our work to clean up Home Affairs”.

“Committed officials like these are the future of Home Affairs, as we continue to work together as #TeamHomeAffairs to clean out the corrupt elements that represent the past,” said the Minister.

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In a written parliamentary reply to a question posed to Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber, the department provided a detailed breakdown of asylum applications by year, country of origin, processing durations, and outcomes. The data paints a picture of a system under significant strain, and potentially out of sync with its humanitarian obligations.

Application Trends and Origin Countries

Between the 2019 and 2024 financial years, the Department received a total of over 71,000 asylum applications. Numbers spiked dramatically in 2019 (26,453) and again in 2023 (20,456), before dropping to 7,086 in 2024, a decline that could reflect either improved border control, deterrent policies, or barriers in access to the asylum process.

Top countries of origin remain consistent: Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe dominate the asylum seeker pool. Ethiopia alone accounted for nearly 10,000 applications over five years.

This geographic spread reflects a combination of regional instability, economic hardship, and protracted conflicts, particularly in the Horn of Africa and Central Africa.

Perhaps most alarming is the protracted average time it takes for the department to finalise asylum decisions. According to the figures:

• 2019: 2,379 days (~6.5 years)
• 2020: 1,876 days
• 2021: 2,666 days
• 2022: 3,079 days (~8.4 years)
• 2023: 2,274 days
• 2024: 2,572 days

These averages suggest that thousands of asylum seekers remain in limbo for years, with many potentially left without legal status, work rights, or access to services, a bureaucratic purgatory that undermines both state credibility and migrant dignity.

Acceptance Rare, Appeals the Norm

From 2020 to 2024, only 933 asylum applications were approved, a mere 17% of the 5,516 rejections issued in the same period. This low recognition rate stands out globally, especially when compared to other nations grappling with similar migratory flows.

Meanwhile, 8,884 appeals were lodged over the same timeframe, and the Refugee Appeals Authority managed to finalise 14,400 appeals. However, the department failed to disclose the breakdown between appeals upheld and dismissed, leaving a critical gap in transparency.

The figures for 2024 are particularly telling: only 19 approvals were granted versus 1,704 rejections, suggesting either an extremely narrow definition of refugee status or systemic flaws in adjudication.

A System Under Pressure

The data points to an asylum system overwhelmed by volume, hampered by inefficiencies, and possibly losing sight of its core humanitarian mandate. With decisions taking several years and appeals saturating the system, critics are likely to ask whether South Africa is meeting its obligations under international refugee law.

Minister Schreiber, who assumed office with promises to reform Home Affairs, now faces mounting pressure to unclog processing pipelines, bolster institutional capacity, and inject both fairness and speed into decision-making.

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The department revealed it deported 39 672 people in 2023/24, and attributed the increase to improved collaboration between stakeholders, among others.

“This marked increase in the effectiveness of enforcement operations demonstrates our commitment to upholding the rule of law. It also flows from improved collaboration between the Department of Home Affairs, the Border Management Authority, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and local law enforcement. It further reflects the impact of joint initiatives like Operation Vala Umgodi,” Home Affairs Minister, Dr Leon Schreiber, said in a statement on Wednesday.

According to the department, “this is the highest number of deportations carried out in at least five years.”

In the five months between April and end August last year, the Department of Home Affairs deported 19 750 people at a cost of R52 million, Schreiber revealed in a parliamentary reply, equating to R2 670 per person.

In 2022/23, 10 808 people were deported, with the majority (7 393) being from Zimbabwe, followed by Malawi (3 020), Tanzania (159), and Nigeria (86).

Last month, the department announced a comprehensive upgrade to its digital verification system, a crucial component of national security, as well as both public and private sector services in South Africa.

The verification system enables government departments, including National Treasury and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), as well as financial sector businesses, to confirm client identities using biometric features, such as fingerprints and facial recognition, against the National Population Register.

“This improved performance, coupled with our digital transformation reforms that will automate entry-and-exit to prevent people from entering the country illegally through our ports of entry, is contributing to enhanced national security and trade facilitation,” the Minister said.

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To bolster border control, a total of 672 Border Law Enforcement Officers have been deployed across vulnerable areas, including 585 officers at land borders, 56 at maritime borders, and 31 stationed at OR Tambo International Airport. Officers are equipped with 22 quad bikes, 26 motorbikes, 44 patrol vehicles, and 127 firearms, with 400 additional pistols recently delivered.

South Africa has signed joint action plans with Mozambique and Eswatini, and is in advanced negotiations with Lesotho, under the World Bank’s Southern African Trade Facilitation Programme. These agreements facilitate risk information exchanges to improve border management. The Border Management Authority (BMA) has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with INTERPOL to access databases on lost travel documents, wanted persons, and other risks. Additionally, a Border Security Risk and Information Committee allows collaboration with various agencies, including the State Security Agency, SAPS Crime Intelligence, SANDF Defence Intelligence, and SARS Customs Targeting Unit.

Between July 2022 and September 2024, a total of 410,332 illegal foreigners were processed, categorized as “inadmissibles, undesirables, undocumented individuals,” or arrests. Efforts to apprehend and deport illegal immigrants remain ongoing, with thousands processed each year.

To further strengthen enforcement, the Border Management Authority, in collaboration with ARMSCOR, is using funds from the Crime Asset Recovery Account (CARA) to procure specialized equipment such as drones, body cameras, and maritime patrol vessels to enhance surveillance and enforcement.

The department reported that total foreign arrivals from January to September 2024 stood at 9,285,398, with data for 2020-2022 provided in a detailed breakdown below.

The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that its reported figures reflect accurately detected illegal immigrants, refusals of entry, and deportations from ports of entry. These efforts demonstrate South Africa’s ongoing commitment to managing migration, securing its borders, and facilitating legitimate travel and trade.

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Among those asking questions of Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber was Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) National Assembly (NA) member Thapelo Mogale. He was told the South African government, by way of the taxpayer, spent R52 817 656 deporting illegal immigrant back to their countries of origin in the five months between 1 April and 31 August this year. That money paid for 19 750 illegals to return to their countries of origin, which works out at over R2 670 per person.

Going further back on the same topic, ActionSA NA member Lerato Ngobeni was told by Schreiber deportations since 1 January 2022, with no end date given, were 83 731. It cost R193 million – just over R2 305 per person.

In 2022/23, 10 808 people were deported, with the majority (7 393) being from Zimbabwe, followed by Malawi (3 020), Tanzania (159), and Nigeria (86).

Finding and rounding up illegals in South Africa was done by way of what Minister Schreiber termed “raids/operations conducted” with him telling his questioner there were 1 112 in 2022/23 and 1 538 in the 2023/24 financial year. All told these netted over sixty-two thousand undocumented persons: 22 436 in 2022/23 and 39 627 in 2023/24.

Asked by MKP (uMkhonto weSizwe Party) NCOP member Seeng Mokoena whether the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) tracked and monitored non-South African citizens approved for visa-free stay and those with visas for the prescribed duration, Schreiber noted “both categories of traveller ere provided a specified period of stay when they comply with admission requirements as stated in the Immigration Act. He did not elaborate apart from adding “risk-based solutions” were used as well as the deterrent of being declared “undesirable” for one to five years.

Tracking is done by the DHA inspectorate unit which, according to Schreiber, saw 171 025 foreign nationals overstay from January 2019 to August 2024.

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This is according to Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who was answering a parliamentary question by ActionSA’s Athol Trollip. Ntshavheni explained that the SSA played an advisory role to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), and continues to do so.

Additionally, the Minister revealed the SSA is working with the Border Management Agency (BMA) and Police to improve biometric controls and border security.

While investigations into how the military training was facilitated remain active, authorities have yet to identify which entities or individuals were responsible for organizing the training, which was conducted by Milites Dei Academy in White River, Mpumalanga. The outcome of these investigations will determine accountability once all relevant details are confirmed, Ntshavenhi added.

Another point of contention in the case was the decision to deport the Libyan nationals without trial. Ntshavheni reiterated the decision to allow their deportation was made by the courts, not the SSA. This raised concerns about the broader implications of such deportations, particularly in relation to accountability. Trollip questioned whether the deportation was an attempt to avoid a legal trial and prevent the individuals from facing questions about the nature of their training.

The Minister clarified the SSA’s role in matter was limited to an advisory position, focused on border security and visa management, emphasising investigations are still ongoing to uncover the full scope of the training programme.

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“During the Month of October 2024, the population of sentenced and unsentenced foreign nationals in DCS custody stands at approximately 18000 which constitutes 11% of the incarcerated population,” noted Groenewald.

After reporting foreign nationals to the DHA, the true nationality of the detainees must then be established by DHA, who then initiates the deportation of those “whose stay in the Republic of South Africa is illegal or undesirable.”

It remains the responsibility of DCS to hand over offenders to relevant authorities either for release or deportation. Among the conditions of deportation, detainees who are leased back to their home countries must seek authorization from DHA to return. Further, their personal details are to be circulated to all South African Border posts, to the South African Police Service (SAPS), and Criminal Record Centres “until expiry of the parole period.”

“In collaboration with other stakeholders, [DCS] is at an advanced stage of consultation with the Justice Crime Prevention and Security Cluster with the objective of formalizing a South African procedure in relation to interstate transfer of offenders as currently there is no legal provision for the transfer of sentenced foreign nationals to their country of origin,” added Groenewald.

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“These actions reflect the Department’s intensified commitment to enforcing ethical governance and accelerating disciplinary and criminal sanctions against officials engaged in maladministration,” the DHA said in a 15 October statement.

The officials faced transgressions relating to irregular recruitment, violation of the Citizenship Act and the violation of the Immigration Act. Eight of the cases came from the Free State, followed by six cases from KwaZulu-Natal.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said: “While we are committed to empowering the many officials who uphold ethical governance and dignified service delivery within Home Affairs, we have zero tolerance for unethical conduct or corruption. As our accelerated action against errant conduct demonstrates, officials who fail to heed this message will soon find themselves out of Home Affairs and on their way to prison.”

One such official who failed to abide by the required standards of ethical conduct is Mogale Raseone, whose trial is set to start on 6 November. He is facing fraud charges. Raseone was dismissed from the Department last year after the conclusion of disciplinary processes. He was implicated by the Counter-Corruption Branch in multiple fraudulent transactions that benefitted mostly Pakistani nationals. He allegedly conducted this fraud by manipulating the systems Home Affairs uses to administer immigration.

Another official who is waiting to have her day in court is Dora Ncube, a suspended Border Management Authority (BMA) official who was recently arrested in Beitbridge while trying to smuggle six foreign nationals into the country.

“These cases make us even more determined to pursue digital transformation to close opportunities for manual and paper-based processes to be exploited towards corrupt ends. Digital transformation holds the key to uprooting corruption in our systems, while enhancing the efficiency of service delivery,” Schreiber said.

These prosecutions follow the recent conviction of two dismissed officials, Judy Zuma and Tony Stout, for similar crimes. Further arrests are expected as Home Affairs, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), assisted by the Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigations (the Hawks), progresses with the implementation of Proclamation 154 of 2024.

The proclamation empowers the SIU to investigate serious maladministration and improper conduct in the Department relating to the issuance of various permits.

“Our determination to root out corruption is absolute, as winning this fight is essential to our vision of turning Home Affairs into a respected and ethical institution that delivers dignity to all our clients,” Schreiber concluded.

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This comes after the Tshwane Metro and the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) agreed on Friday to co-operate on solving the issue of illegal occupations within the city. It is expected that a formal cooperative agreement will be entered into soon.

The FF Plus has discussed how to address several pressing problems with the DHA, including illegal land occupation, crime, the sale of counterfeit goods, cable theft, illegal electricity connections and extortion.

One of the most pressing concerns is foreign nationals illegally occupying abandoned buildings in the Pretoria CBD, where it is alleged, they rent rooms to other undocumented foreigners. Due to the conditions of these buildings, the City views it as a health, fire and safety risk.

Theunissen announced that there is suspicion of syndicates corroborating with City officials, law firms and the Deeds Office to transfer properties to criminals’ names.

Large quantities of counterfeit goods are allegedly sold in Pretoria West, where many Somali nationals live. Drug trafficking is “the order of the day in Sunnyside” according to Theunissen, who notes the area is home to many Nigerian nationals.

Further, Theunissen notes Centurion and Pretoria East, where Zimbabweans and Mozambicans are concentrated respectively, are particularly affected by cable theft and infrastructure vandalism.

In addition to helping with immigration control, the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber was also asked to assist with immediate deportation, more stringent border control and investigating corruption at South African borders.

The FF Plus is of the opinion that other departments should also be involved to curb the problem effectively.

“The illegal hijacking of buildings in Tshwane must be stopped, so, the FF Plus is committed to eradicating the problem and the crime that goes hand in hand with it,” the party said in a statement.

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Statistics released by the Directorate Corporate Communication (DCC) reveal Mozambicans carrying narcotics valued at R2.7 million were intercepted by soldiers patrolling the Mozambique/Mpumalanga borders last month. Soldiers in KwaZulu-Natal along the Mozambique and Eswatini borders seized narcotics worth R7 million from smugglers and drug mules.

Other drug busts reported for Operation Corona by SA Army provincial joint tactical headquarters in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo provinces totalled R88 000. The major contributor was Zimbabwe with R66 000 worth seized.

Contraband confiscations – again not specified but normally cigarettes, liquor, pharmaceuticals as well as fake branded clothing and footwear – were confined to the Eswatini, Mozambique and Zimbabwe borders. The total estimated value, as per Joint Ops, is R3.8 million with Mozambique leading the pack on R3.4 million followed by Zimbabwe (R377 000) and Eswatini a distant third on R66 426.

The flow of illegal immigrants to South Africa in August was 839 – 71 less than in July. The 387 Zimbabweans handed to police and Department of Home Affairs (DHA) immigration officials was the single highest for the month followed by 247 Mozambicans.

Other successes for August include R1.2 million worth of livestock recovered; 16 criminals arrested; stolen vehicles worth R1.2 million recovered in Mpumalanga and Limpopo; and R16 000 worth of firearms seized.

It is known that two units – SA Army Reserve Force unit, Durban Light Infantry (DLI) and 8 SA Infantry (SAI) Battalion from Upington – ended their Operation Corona duties at the end of August. DLI was tasked with patrolling the Lesotho/South Africa border in KwaZulu-Natal with the Northern Cape soldiers deployed along the KwaZulu-Natal/Mpumalanga border with Eswatini and Mozambique. Their replacements come from Middelburg, Mpumalanga-based 4 SAI.

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