ActionSA welcomes the expanded law enforcement raids by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and the Department of Home Affairs at refugee centers across the country.

This is a welcome development where we hope law enforcement's seemingly renewed vigour will, once and for all, address the immigration challenge and its enablers within the Department of Home Affairs, where officials are part of the fraudulent activities in the issuance of immigration status certificates. 

It has taken this government too long to finally see reason that South Africa, and its appallingly porous borders, has an immigration crisis. Refugee centers are the epicenter of fraud and corruption, and we hope the full weight of the criminal justice system will work tirelessly in bringing to book those found to have acted fraudulently. We applaud the individuals involved who have sounded the alarm to law enforcement.

ActionSA strongly advocates for the people of the world to come to our shores. It is consistent with our national and economic interests, to attract the requisite skills that of which we can not produce in sufficient quantities. However, we also strongly believe that people need to do so legally while respecting the rules of their host country. 

We remain cautiously optimistic that these results will yield some positive results while inspiring further action in dealing with the immigration crisis.

 

Issued by ActionSA FixSA Member: Home Affairs Lerato Ngobeni