Pretoria – Home Affairs Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize has warned that corruption will not be tolerated within the ranks of her department.
On a visit to the Randburg Home Affairs offices earlier this week, the Minister said the department will not hesitate to take stern action against dishonest employees.
“The Department of Home Affairs has a responsibility to ensure the security of identity documents of South Africans and those of foreign nationals,” Minister Mkhize said.
The Minister was deeply concerned at reports that officials at some centres were colluding with marriage officers to arrange marriages between young South African girls and immigrants to assist foreign nationals to acquire citizenship.
“We are aware that at some centres, there are known priests or marriage officers, who actually arrange marriages to sort out papers. Those papers are invalid and in the end, it catches up with the women because once the man has legalised his stay in South Africa, another woman will come.
“As a woman, you’re left in conflict with the law. You’ve sold your country’s identity and at the same time, you’re subjected to humiliation and pain,” Minister Mkhize said.
The Minister also raised concern over people who do not want to follow the rules or the legal requirements when applying for their documents.
“It’s something which must come to an end.”
Minister Mkhize said there is a need for the department to ensure openness and transparency in the administration of the immigration system.
In July 2015, the department launched Operation Bvisa Masina (a Tshivenda phrase that means 'throw out the rot') to intensify the fight against fraud and corruption. The operation is run in close collaboration with law enforcement agencies and government departments in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster. – SAnews.gov.za
