Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has highlighted the relentless fight against corruption within his department, declaring that substantive progress is being made in addressing the nation’s pervasive corruption crisis.
In a significant address at the University of Johannesburg’s Combatting Corruption Summit, Schreiber claimed that the South African Home Affairs department has become a ground zero site for the grand corruption phenomenon, famously known as State Capture.
‘Over the years, that level of impunity cascaded throughout the administration,’ Schreiber stated, reflecting on how the department became mired in long queues, poor service delivery, and widespread illicit activities.
He detailed how weaknesses in the document issuance system ranging from visas to the green bar-coded ID books were engineered to enable highly organised syndicates to extract bribes and issue fraudulent documents to those who were not entitled to them.
This troubling trend, as Schreiber explained, has not only plagued Home Affairs but has infiltrated several sectors of the government.
‘This pattern of syndicated behaviour, where individuals within the government collude with what I refer to as ‘tenderpreneurs’ who masquerade as legitimate private businesses is visible throughout the state,’ Schreiber emphasised, referring to a concerning evolution of South Africa into what he termed a ‘syndicate society’.
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The historical context of rampant corruption, specifically during the infamous Gupta years, has left scars that this government is now committed to healing.
In an effort to reinstate integrity and accountability within the department, Schreiber pointed to individual responsibility as a pillar of their strategy to eradicate corruption and the shadow of State Capture.
He noted that accountability is not just limited to Home Affairs but extends to the broader ecosystem that encompasses the Border Management Authority (BMA) and the Government Printing Works (GPW).
‘We are dismantling the syndicates that took hold over many years by holding accountable all those involved in corruption, both inside and outside the department,’ Schreiber affirmed.
In a decisive gesture towards this commitment, a total of 54 officials from Home Affairs and the BMA have been dismissed for corruption and misconduct between July 2024 and August 2025, with the first indication that a strong stance is being taken in this battle against dishonesty.
‘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,’ he vowed.
In an encouraging sign of progress, Schreiber revealed that eight of those dismissed have already been convicted and sentenced to prison terms of up to 18 years each, sending a clear message that no one is above the law.
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Picture: ER Lombard / Gallo Images
