SIU Exposes Alleged Highly Organised Home Affairs Syndicate Selling Work Permits, Citizenship and Study Visas for R40 000 Per Document Special Investigating Unit (SIU) acting head Leonard Lekgetho says investigators have uncovered a highly organised syndicate operating inside the Department of Home Affairs, allegedly selling visas, permits and South African citizenship. He said officials were charging up to R40 000 for study visas, describing widespread abuse of immigration processes within the system. Lekgetho explained that study visas were allegedly issued for five years and repeatedly renewed, allowing individuals to remain in the country for long periods without studying. He said, “They get study visa for five years, meaning that you can be in the country uninterrupted for five years. So another five years come again, you get another study visa.” He further stated that multiple visa categories were exploited, including work visas, exceptional skills visas, permanent residence permits, business visas and retired visas. Lekgetho said, “A person will continue with study visa until they are more than 20 years in the country, whereas they are not studying anything.” He also highlighted cases of misuse involving retirees as young as 40. Lekgetho said the SIU is working with the Department of Home Affairs to implement systemic recommendations, while disciplinary and criminal processes are underway. He added, “We are working together with the department… we can say that the check has been closed in terms of those aspects.” The matter remains under ongoing investigation.

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