Home Affairs fighting corruption

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"Many culprits, within and outside our services, have been brought to book for various acts of fraud and corruption," Minister Gigaba said, speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria on Friday, 24 July 2015.

He said since 2011, 285 officials were dismissed on fraud or corruption charges following internal disciplinary processes.

Minister Gigaba highlighted four cases that have been finalised in the country's courts recently, including that of Primrose Dyonase who was sentenced on Thursday by the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court to 11 years in prison, three of which were suspended, for fraud and corruption relating to subsistence and travel allowance.

Also, S. Skosana was sentenced to seven years imprisonment of which two are suspended on fraud and corruption charges in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court. He was ordered by the court to pay back R45 000.

A woman, S. Zungu, was sentenced to six years in prison for selling fraudulent birth certificates to foreign nationals and another was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for four years in the Gauteng Regional Court for manipulating temporary residence permit processes.

"Between April 2015 and July 2015 various project-driven investigations have resulted in eight arrests, five of which were Department of Home Affairs and three non-officials," Minister Gigaba said.

The department is also making breakthroughs in the ongoing integrated law enforcement projects, with 45 cases pending criminal investigation at immigration. An internal disciplinary process is underway for the officials who have violated the permitting process.

"We will do all in our power to uproot the twin evils of fraud and corruption within the public service. Our officials and any person found guilty of unethical, criminal conduct will continue facing, without fail, the full might of the law," Minister Gigaba said.

Minister Gigaba said the department is making serious inroads in fighting fraud and corruption working with the law enforcement agencies as well as government departments in the justice, crime prevention and security cluster.

"The Department of Home Affairs' Modernization Project and technological innovations are also assisting greatly in curbing fraud and corruption in the system," he said.

The department is also streamlining all processes at various offices nationwide through the Moetapele Initiative - a front office and leadership improvement project which aims to improve the way officials work and deliver services to the public.