How Shepherd Bushiri’s Home Affairs Approval Exposed A Deep Immigration Scandal

South Africa’s immigration system has long carried the reputation of being slow, overstretched and easy to exploit. But the latest findings from the Special Investigating Unit have given the public an even harsher truth. According to the SIU’s interim report, the country’s permit system was not just failing. It had become a marketplace.

On Monday in Pretoria, acting SIU head Leonard Lekgetho unpacked what he described as a disturbing network of officials and outsiders who turned visas, asylum documents and permanent residence approvals into a cash-for-access operation. The revelations have sent shockwaves through social media, with many South Africans expressing a grim sense of familiarity, saying the report simply confirms what everyday applicants have suspected for years.

A Permit System Treated Like A Marketplace

According to the SIU, the rot ran deep. Officials charged with protecting the country’s borders allegedly used their positions as side hustles, accepting e-Wallet transfers, cash hidden between documents and even rent payments in exchange for permits.

The investigation, authorised under Presidential Proclamation 154 of 2024, included raids on Refugee Reception Offices following whistleblower alerts. Digital devices seized during those operations told a consistent story. Conversations between officials and applicants revealed payments ranging from R500 to R3 000 to fast-track or approve documents.

One reader on X summarised the national mood: “For ordinary people, Home Affairs is a nightmare. For others, it was a convenience store.”

Faith, Favour And The Bushiri Connection

One of the highest profile names to emerge from the investigation is charismatic preacher Shepherd Bushiri. Once a dominant religious figure in Pretoria before leaving for Malawi, Bushiri has remained a controversial subject in South Africa.

The SIU revealed that his permanent residence permit had been approved by a Home Affairs adjudicator who was also a member of his church. Lekgetho labelled it a textbook conflict of interest.

Bushiri’s application relied on a letter of financial independence allegedly signed by a chartered accountant who later admitted he had simply been paid to sign it. The finances tied to the application raised even more questions, including the discovery of USD 1.2 million in cash used to prove the purchase of an aircraft at Lanseria Airport. The SIU suggested that donations from congregants may have been converted into property, business assets and potentially laundered funds.

For many South Africans, the Bushiri revelation was unsurprising. His name has been tied to controversy for years, but this time, the allegations link directly to the heart of state systems meant to protect the country.

The Omotoso Waiver And A Pattern Of Abuse

Another familiar religious figure, Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso, also featured in the report. According to the SIU, Omotoso allegedly built his foothold in South Africa on misrepresentation.

He initially entered the country using a fraudulently obtained work permit issued in a nation where he was not a citizen. The SIU found contradictions in his travel history, affidavits claiming lost documents and a visa renewal waiver granted by an official who did not have the authority to approve it.

For many, the connection between high-profile religious leaders and compromised officials paints a troubling pattern. Religion, influence and paperwork, the SIU suggests, were being used as tools to bypass immigration laws.

Millions Lost And Identities Manipulated

Beyond individual cases, the SIU traced over R181 million linked to fraudulent visa approvals. The investigation also discovered identity manipulation schemes involving fingerprint substitutions and tampering with DNA samples, benefiting foreign applicants seeking permanent residence.

These findings hit a nerve among citizens who feel the country’s systems are strained enough already. Social media timelines quickly filled with comments such as: “If they can swap fingerprints, what chance do ordinary people have against corruption?”

A Call For A System Rebuilt From The Ground Up

In its recommendations, the SIU stated that Home Affairs needs stronger contract oversight, rigorous employee vetting, smarter interdepartmental systems and tighter compliance checks.

Lekgetho summed up the gravity of the situation: the permit system was treated as a commodity. It was sold, traded and exploited by people who saw opportunity instead of responsibility.

For many South Africans, the hope is that this investigation is the beginning of meaningful reform, not the latest story to fade into the cycle of scandals. Because if the SIU’s report reveals anything, it is that the immigration system was not merely vulnerable to corruption. It was shaped by it.

{Source:IOL}

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