In a move, South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, has called upon the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to conduct a thorough investigation into irregularities within the department. This request follows the shocking discovery that Kudakwashe Mpofu, an illegal foreign national from Zimbabwe, managed to secure a high-ranking position within the North West provincial government by using a counterfeit residence permit. Mpofu, who has since resigned, was employed as the chief financial officer in the Department of Tourism.
The revelation came to light during a media briefing on Sunday, where Minister Motsoaledi expressed his concerns over the integrity of the Department of Home Affairs’ visa processes. To address these concerns, he has sought President Cyril Ramaphosa’s authorization for an SIU proclamation, aiming to tackle the visa irregularities highlighted by the recent Lubisi report.
The minister firmly rebutted the criticism that the department was neglecting the security of South Africa’s borders. He detailed the extensive efforts made by the department and its various units to manage and secure the nation’s borders effectively. Dr. Motsoaledi drew a distinction between minor infractions and the more serious threat posed by well-dressed, influential individuals who enter the country legally but then engage in corrupt practices to legalize their stay. He emphasized that the focus of their resources and energies would be on targeting these “crocodiles,” referring to corrupt individuals like Mpofu.
In light of these events, the North West MEC for Economic Development, Environment Conservation and Tourism, Virginia Tlhapi, expressed the department’s commitment to cooperating with the SIU to resolve the matter. The department had been monitoring the situation closely since it was first reported in the media. Tlhapi assured that the department’s management and the CEO of the North West Development Corporation (NWDC) would provide full support to the SIU’s investigation.
The urgency of this investigation is underscored by the findings of the Lubisi report in 2022, which identified theft, fraud, and corruption as significant challenges within the department. The report indicated that over 45,000 fraudulent visas were issued between 2014 and 2021, implicating at least 115 officials in these malpractices.
This situation highlights the critical need for systemic reforms within the Department of Home Affairs to ensure the integrity of South Africa’s immigration and visa processes. It also underscores the importance of holding individuals accountable for undermining the country’s security and governance through fraudulent activities. As South Africa grapples with these complex issues, the actions taken by the SIU and the department’s cooperation with the investigation will be pivotal in restoring trust and ensuring that such breaches do not recur in the future.
The case of Kudakwashe Mpofu serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within governmental departments that can be exploited by those wishing to circumvent legal processes. It also points to the broader implications for national security and the integrity of the public service system. As this investigation progresses, it will be crucial for the findings to inform stronger safeguards and more rigorous vetting processes to prevent similar incidents from happening again, thus reinforcing the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.
Source:NewZimbabwe.com
