Pieterson was formerly employed at the Department of Home Affairs office in Calvinia in the Northern Cape, where she abused her access to departmental records to commit fraud and corruption between February 2019 and September 2022.

She did this by opening funeral policies on clients’ identity numbers, nominating herself as the beneficiary, then falsely declaring the holders of the ID numbers as deceased in order to access the payouts.

The department said it would continue to monitor the case as Pieterson is scheduled to be sentenced on 26 January 2026.

“This latest successful conviction is another step forward in our ongoing work to clean up Home Affairs. It is the ninth conviction secured through the collaboration between the department and law enforcement agencies. It also follows the dismissal of 37 officials since July 2024.

“I applaud the department’s Counter Corruption unit for this conviction, as well as our partners in the Hawks and other entities.”

The Minister said the modus operandi used in this case confirmed the fundamental importance of the digital transformation agenda.

“By fully automating and digitalising all departmental processes, as we are doing through the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for visas and through Digital ID for civics services, we will eliminate the space for human discretion and interference exploited by criminals like Pieterson.

“We are absolutely determined to both put criminal officials behind bars, while simultaneously using technology to close the loopholes they exploit. This is how we can defeat the scourge of corruption once and for all,” the Minister said.

The post Home Affairs welcomes conviction of former employee appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

The authority, headed by Commissioner Michael Masiapato, is the newest addition to government’s security architecture.

The more money call follows a briefing by Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber and his deputy Njabulo Nzuza to the Standing Committee on Appropriations (SCA), chaired by Mmusi Maimane.

The SCA heard the BMA has an approved organisational structure for 11 115 personnel. At present 2 566 positions have been filled, leaving 8 549 vacancies. In the current three-year medium term expenditure framework (MTEF) period, the BMA requires 3 207 positions to be filled so it can begin aligning with the approved structure. Achieving this will necessitate significant additional funding, a Parliamentary Communication Services statement reads, in part.

It quotes Maimane as saying adequate resourcing for the BMA was urgent. “The integrity and sovereignty of our borders are of paramount importance. Currently, the BMA is underfunded by more than R2.2 billion. Without the necessary tools, such as thermal scanners and modern policing technology, the Authority is severely constrained in fulfilling its mandate. Addressing this funding shortfall is vital not only for national security but also to safeguard South Africa against illicit trade, tax evasion and the illegal movement of goods.”

The SCA noted the BMA achieved commendable success through the use of modern technology, including limited deployment of drones and vehicles, but it continues to operate under severe resource constraints. The lack of adequate tools of trade and insufficient funding remain critical barriers to its effectiveness.

On political will the Parliamentary statement has it this is important to assist in overcoming “challenges” faced by the BMA. Abuse of social services by undocumented immigrants, the risks of foreign prisoners trying to “exploit South Africa’s porous borders” and the absence of prisoner exchange agreements with neighbouring countries were given as examples where political will could assist.

The post Parliamentary committee wants more money for BMA, which is underfunded by R2.2 bn appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

“From visas to the green bar-coded ID book, weaknesses in the system of document issuance were engineered and exploited, enabling syndicates to extract bribes in order to issue documents to people who were not entitled to it,” Schreiber said.

Speaking at the University of Johannesburg Combatting Corruption Summit, on Friday 5 September, Schreiber said the Department of Home Affairs was a ground zero site for the grand corruption project, known as State Capture.

“Over the years, that level of impunity cascaded throughout the administration, as Home Affairs sadly became synonymous not only with long queues and poor service delivery, but also with corruption,” Schreiber said.

Schreiber said corruption was not limited only to Home Affairs.

“This pattern of syndicated behaviour, where people inside government conspire with “tenderpreneurs” masquerading as private businesses, is visible throughout the state. As South Africa increasingly morphed into a syndicate society, Home Affairs was not spared,” the Minister said.

The Minister said syndicates formed wherever services of value had to be rendered.

“From visas to the green bar-coded ID book, weaknesses in the system of document issuance were engineered and exploited, enabling syndicates to extract bribes in order to issue documents to people who were not entitled to it.

“It was not by accident that one of my first acts as Minister was to revoke the citizenship of Gupta family members. But now, under the GNU, a very different message is going out,” the Minister said.

Schreiber said individual accountability is the first building block of government’s approach to washing the stain of corruption and State Capture from not only the Department of Home Affairs, but the entire ecosystem that includes the Border Management Authority (BMA) and the Government Printing Works (GPW).

“Through holding accountable people involved in corruption both inside and outside the department, we are dismantling the syndicates that took hold over many years,” the Minister said.

To date, Schreiber said a total of 54 officials from the department and the BMA have been dismissed between July 2024 and August 2025 for offenses including fraud, corruption and misconduct.

“This is a strong start, but we are far from done. We will not stop until we have purged each and every official who abuses their position for personal gain.

“Even more significantly, eight of these individuals have already been convicted and sentenced to prison terms of up to 18 years each, sending a clear message that there will be no impunity for those who betray the public trust,” the minister said.

The post Department of Home Affairs turning the tide against corruption – Schreiber appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

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.

The post SA taxpayers fork out R2 670 plus per person to deport illegals appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

Speaking at the Border Management Conference and Expo 2024 at the CSIR International Convention Centre on Wednesday 13 November, Masiapato said the issue of border management remains one of the most critical subjects for any nation and in South Africa border management is not just about securing borders but also creating a framework that promotes national safety, economic activity, and a sustainable environment.

In an increasingly globalised economy, South Africa’s prosperity depends on its ability to connect with other nations. “Beyond security, our borders are key to South Africa’s economic prosperity as they facilitate trade and commerce,” Masiapato said.

“National security lies at the very heart of our mission statement as the BMA for the fact that we are playing a very critical role safeguarding our nation from threats such as terrorism, trafficking, organised crime, the smuggling of goods, and illegal migration. These kind of threats, if not mitigated, have the potential to destabilise communities, harm individuals, and undermine the integrity of the nation,” Masiapato told conference attendees.

He added that border security is an interagency matter, with the BMA a frontline entity while key government departments provide policy directives, for example the Department of Home Affairs (visas and immigration policy), Department of Agriculture (import/export directives), and Department of Health (screening directives) etc.

Other key pieces in the border management puzzle include the South African Police Service, South African National Defence Force, and South African Revenue Service. “By sharing information, resources, and expertise, we are able to respond more effectively to threats,” the Commissioner said, as each entity brings specialist knowledge to the table.

Regarding private industry, Masiapato said the role of the private sector cannot be underestimated as those working in logistics, supply chain management etc. bring valuable expertise to the table. “By fostering public-private partnerships we can enhance border security, improve efficiencies, and create systems that benefit trade and national security. We are actively seeking partnerships with technology firms, logistics firms etc. so we can enhance smart borders.”

The Commissioner gave an example of using iris scanning to pass through immigration control rather than using traditional passports (in 2004, the UK trialled its Iris Recognition Immigration System to provide automated clearance through UK immigration for certain frequent travellers, for example).

“As an advanced economy we must be able to move with speed and be trailblazer on the continent. Together we can create a framework where goods move efficiently, where goods move and business thrives. We can’t have trucks queuing for ten days,” Masiapato said. The BMA is working to speed up movement at points of entry, including working with neighbouring countries. At the Oshoek border crossing with Eswatini, the BMA synchronised processes and reduced waiting times for trucks from nine hours to ten minutes, Masiapato explained, saying long truck queues are a thing of the past.

“The complexity of border challenges means we must build strong alliances across government, the private sector, and international partners. Public-private partnerships represent a crucial component of our strategy for the future,” Masiapato said. The private sector can, with their expertise, resources and technology, help the BMA achieve its objectives. “Tech companies can help us with data analytics, border surveillance, risk assessment, faster and more efficient trade routes.”

“I therefore invite each one of you here today to join in our mission to seek to secure our borders,” Masiapato told conference attendees. “Together we can make South Africa’s borders a model for security, efficiency and sustainability.”

The importance of private sector collaboration was also emphasised by Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, who gave the keynote address at the Border Management Conference. He noted that public-private partnerships are envisioned for the redevelopment of six key land border posts.

“Businesses and industries play a critical role in bolstering the capabilities of the BMA. From logistics and transportation to security and technology, the private sector brings valuable expertise and resources that complement our efforts in managing South Africa’s borders effectively,” the Minister said.

“By working with logistics companies, for instance, we can more effectively monitor the movement of goods and manage the flow of trade, which helps reduce congestion and improves service delivery. Collaboration with security firms enables us to enhance surveillance, monitor high-risk areas, and respond quickly to incidents. Technology firms are also key players in this effort, helping us integrate digital solutions that make border processing faster and more secure.

“Advanced analytics, biometric verification, and real-time data sharing with private sector stakeholders will enable us to respond to threats more efficiently and enhance the accuracy of our documentation and immigration processes.

“By creating public-private partnerships, we will encourage the development of a border management framework that serves both public interests and private sector growth,” Schreiber said.

The post BMA Commissioner calls for private sector involvement to help with SA’s border management appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

Speaking at the Border Management Conference and Expo at the CSIR International Convention Centre on 13 November, Schreiber said South Africa’s immigration system, including its capacity to enforce border control and management, has not been spared from the effects of state capture and corruption.

Rising crime, the under-funding of law enforcement, prosecutorial challenges, and the rise of mafias and syndicates across society are also contributing to the assault against the rule of law, he said, but these are challenges that have to be conquered.

“On our journey to combat illegal immigration, restore the rule of law, and facilitate the economic growth and job creation that flows from secure and streamlined border management, we require a number of critical ingredients,” Schreiber said, with the BMA making meaningful strides.

“A little over a year since His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa formally launched the BMA on 5 October 2023, I am confident in saying today that the BMA is here to stay as the latest addition to South Africa’s arsenal in the fight to restore the rule of law.”

Schreiber highlighted some recent successes, with the BMA over the past two quarters apprehending over 36 000 undocumented, undesirable and inadmissible persons, seizing 249 fraudulent documents, confiscating counterfeit cigarettes worth over R22 million, counterfeit clothing worth over R4 million, recovering more than 1 100 stolen vehicle parts, and drugs with a street value of over R6 million.

Over the same period, the BMA screened over 2 million people, searched more than 108 000 trucks, processed over 12 000 flights and conducted 648 roadblocks around ports of entry – statistics which show the BMA no longer exists only on paper.

“These numbers should not make us complacent. Given how far we still are from fully capacitating the BMA, these numbers actually indicate the enormous scale of the challenges that confront us,” Schreiber said. “There is still much work to do to build a new, integrated organisational culture for the BMA that puts ethics above all else.”

Apart from this new culture, Schreiber believes the second key ingredient for the BMA’s success in the immediate term, is collaboration.

“At the moment, the Authority has only 2 700 out of the 11 000 officials it requires. In this context, it is crucial to leverage the strength of partnerships and cooperation,” Schreiber said.

Collaboration was exemplified recently through a two-day strategic alignment workshop between the BMA and the South African Revenue Service, which followed on the signed implementation protocol between the organisations.

“This collaboration has already yielded tangible improvements on the ground, including through an interim solution to the network challenges experienced by the movement control system,” Schreiber told the conference.

“The very founding of the BMA was an ode to the need for deeper cooperation and collaboration in the border environment. Instead of the fragmented system that previously split responsibilities among various different departments, the main reason for the BMA’s existence is to foster better coordination.”

Schreiber said this founding spirit of collaboration must now be taken forward to turn the vision of the One Stop Border Post Bill into a reality, including through the envisioned public-private partnerships to redevelop six key land border posts.

“To do so, the involvement of the private sector will be essential. Businesses and industries play a critical role in bolstering the capabilities of the BMA. From logistics and transportation to security and technology, the private sector brings valuable expertise and resources that complement our efforts in managing South Africa’s borders effectively. The BMA is committed to fostering partnerships with the private sector to leverage cutting-edge technology, streamline trade processes, and optimise operational efficiency.”

By working with logistics companies, for instance, the BMA can more effectively monitor the movement of goods and manage the flow of trade, which helps reduce congestion and improves service delivery.

“Collaboration with security firms enables us to enhance surveillance, monitor high-risk areas, and respond quickly to incidents,” Schreiber added.

Technology firms are also key players in this effort, helping the BMA integrate digital solutions that make border processing faster and more secure

“Advanced analytics, biometric verification, and real-time data sharing with private sector stakeholders will enable us to respond to threats more efficiently and enhance the accuracy of our documentation and immigration processes,” Schreiber said. “By creating public-private partnerships, we will encourage the development of a border management framework that serves both public interests and private sector growth.”

He said the third ingredient for success that the BMA embraces, is technology, which is a powerful force multiplier. For example, a single modern drone used by the BMA for surveillance of the border line will be able to effectively detect illegal crossings in a context where the Authority lacks the manpower it needs for surveillance. The use of body cameras can similarly make a major impact on ongoing efforts to combat corruption, Schrieber said.

“Importantly, as I have also repeatedly emphasised to the BMA management, all of this data will only be effective if it is integrated and analysed on an ongoing basis in order to guide decision-making. This is why the BMA’s plans for targeting centres are so important, because this is where data must be centralised and analysed to inform operational decisions.”

BMA improvements will be complemented by advances within the Department of Home Affairs, which aims to digitalise and streamline the immigration process.

“The development of a proud, ethical and risk-based institutional culture, a commitment to collaboration and cooperation, and an embrace of technological solutions and digital transformation can take both South Africa’s national security and economic development to new heights,” Schreiber said. “Our goal is to build a world class, integrated border law enforcement authority, partnering for a safe and prosperous South Africa. A deliberate focus on building a strong organisational culture, unlocking the benefits of partnership, and embracing technology, hold the key to turning this vision into reality.”

The post Partnerships, technology key to meeting BMA shortfalls appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

“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.

The post Home Affairs cracks down on errant officials appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

Accused of violating the Immigration Act after misrepresenting the reason for their stay in South Africa, charges were subsequently dropped against the accused.

The Libyan nationals left South Africa from the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport on the morning of Sunday, 18 August 2024, on a flight paid for by the Libyan Government. It was reported that 89 flew out on a CemAir aircraft to Libya, and six were due out on a flight from OR Tambo International as the CemAir aircraft can only carry 90 people.

It is not clear whether the payment was made by the Eastern Libyan Government, based in Tobruk, or the UN recognised Government of National Unity, based in Tripoli.

Home Affairs Minister, Dr Leon Schreiber, welcomed the swift conclusion of the deportation.

“I commend the Home Affairs officials and other law enforcement officers who worked tirelessly to ensure an expeditious deportation. We will continue to deploy all resources at our disposal to ensure that the country’s immigration laws are respected and observed,” said Minister Schreiber.

The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSiRA) previously indicated that they became aware of the camp a month ago, on 19 July, and issued an order to cease operations on 21 July. The South African Police Service (SAPS) raided the camp on 26 July, and discovered military infrastructure, and small amounts of cocaine and cannabis. PSiRA announced on 07 August that the license of the camp, owned by Milites Dei Security Services, had been suspended.

With the Libyans now gone, it is unclear how the investigation will proceed, with SAPS and PSiRA indicating that the investigations are ongoing, with focus now on the camps’ owners.

The post Home Affairs deports Libyan nationals appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

“The message sent by this conviction is crystal clear: if you engage in corruption, we will find you and we will pursue you until you are locked up. Under this new administration, we will not rest until we have cleansed the scourge of corruption from the face of Home Affairs,” Schreiber said.

“Yesterday’s sentence must inaugurate a new culture of zero-tolerance towards corruption. The fight against corruption in this department, as demonstrated by the serious nature of the issues raised in this case, is particularly urgent given that Home Affairs sits at the heart of our national security apparatus,” Schreiber added.

Zuma’s sentence translates into an effective 12 years of direct imprisonment, with an additional 24 years suspended. Zuma was originally arrested in a sting operation after she tried to bribe a Home Affairs Counter-Corruption Officer with R10 000.

Zuma, who was convicted for multiple offences, was part of a syndicate geared to deliver fraudulent passports for reward to foreign nationals who did not qualify for the documents. Zuma was found to have processed 192 passports between 28 May and 12 June 2021 for foreign nationals who did not qualify to have them. She was paid R4 000 for each passport. Zuma left the Department in December 2021, following an internal disciplinary process.

All the affected passports were red flagged, an alert which means any person who tries to use these fraudulent documents at any port of entry will be immediately arrested. Thus far, two foreign nationals have been arrested, and are serving time for their involvement. An additional two were sentenced to four years imprisonment on 2 August 2024.

In 2022, to improve the security of travel documents, the Department introduced a requirement for all passports to be activated through a fingerprint at the office of application. This allows passports to be used only after the owner has validated them with their own fingerprints.

Former Home Affairs official, Zima Shange, is alleged to have recruited Zuma into the scheme. Shange was sentenced to an effective 10 year imprisonment in October 2023.

Minister Schreiber noted the results of the crackdown, on both corrupt officials and foreign nationals, has been a success. He applauded the work of the Counter-Corruption Branch of the Department, adding their successful convictions “demonstrate that the cancer of corruption can be defeated.”

The post Minister of Home Affairs applauds corruption crackdown appeared first on ProtectionWeb.