Home Affairs has, with immediate effect, dismissed 18 officials from offices across the country for a range of offences including fraud, corruption, and sexual harassment.
A further 4 officials were issued with final written warnings - 2 of which also had their salaries docked - while another 2 officials received written warnings.
The breakdown of causes for the dismissals are:
6x Irregular solemnisation and registration of marriages
4x Irregular granting of ID documents
3x Irregular processing of birth certificates
1x Irregular processing of passports
1x Irregular approval of visa applications
1x Irregular extension of asylum seeker permits
1x Sexual harassment
1x Irregular deactivation of file
The dismissal and disciplining of errant officials are the result of the further intensification of our clampdown on corruption, fraud and maladministration, and reflects the intensification of cooperation between Home Affairs, the Special Investigating Unit, and the Hawks. Where prosecutable offences have been committed, the dockets will be referred for criminal prosecution.
These dismissals send a clear and unambiguous message that the days where acts of fraud and corruption are committed with impunity against Home Affairs, are over. Dismissals and prosecutions are set to continue ramping up until we have squeezed crime and corruption out of the system.
Those who cheapen and defraud our country are learning the hard way that there is nowhere to hide from a reinvigorated
#TeamHomeAffairs that is committed to upholding the rule of law and delivering dignity.