Hawks arrest senior Home Affairs official amid wider probe into immigration corruption

Senior immigration officer arrested in Mpumalanga

The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit arrested senior immigration officer Veli Malambe, 50, in Mpumalanga on 11 May. Authorities acted on allegations that he demanded payments before releasing identity and travel documents seized from foreign nationals.

In a Facebook update, the South African Police Service said Malambe initially demanded R2,500, then reduced the amount to R1,500, and was arrested after accepting payment during a controlled sting operation. Officers apprehended him with marked state money.

Malambe appeared before the White River Magistrate’s Court on the same day and was granted R5,000 bail. He is due back in court on 26 June.

Forged travel documents and regional enforcement actions

Authorities say enforcement actions continue to uncover forged travel documents across different enforcement environments. Arrests of Home Affairs officials underscore pressure on immigration enforcement systems.

Beyond the Malambe arrest, the source reports enforcement actions in other towns: an arrest in Pinetown linked to alleged corruption around document handling, and in Secunda, the arrest of a Home Affairs official and two members of the public over alleged unlawful issuance of smart ID documents.

The Home Affairs department has reported 63 dismissals linked to immigration enforcement breaches.

Official statements and public concern

The source includes a statement from Minister Leon Schreiber:

“The scale of the clampdown makes it clear that we will not rest until every last one of the officials involved in maladministration or corruption in this department is dealt with decisively.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned protests and criminal acts against foreign nationals and urged communities to address illegal immigration through lawful channels. He also praised the Border Management Authority and the Defence Force for strengthening border security, saying:

“We commend the BMA for successfully intercepting some 450,000 people trying to enter South Africa illegally in the past financial year.”

Why this matters

Interceptions and arrests highlight repeated attempts to move fraudulent documents through border posts, which remain pressure points for illegal passport stamping, bribery and cross-border document fraud. These enforcement failures and fraud cases continue to fuel public frustration and calls for accountability.