South Africa probes religious leaders over alleged visa fraud
The South African authorities are investigating 15 religious leaders, including pastors and prophets, over allegations that they obtained visas, residence permits, and other immigration benefits through fraudulent or unlawful means.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the Special Investigating Unit had completed ten investigations, referring eight cases to the National Prosecuting Authority for possible prosecution. Five investigations remain ongoing, while two were closed after being resolved.
Two cases had been closed after all investigative steps were completed and the matters were satisfactorily resolved, while five investigations remained ongoing, he said.
This comes after African Transformation Movement (ATM) Member of Parliament Thandiswa Marawu asked the minister about the SIU’s findings that certain foreign religious leaders and pastors had allegedly received assistance from officials within the department to obtain visas, permanent residence permits and other immigration benefits through fraudulent means.
Schreiber said the SIU, acting in terms of Proclamation No. 154 of 2024, had identified 15 individuals for investigation in relation to allegations of “irregular, fraudulent and/or unlawful acquisition of immigration benefits”.
“The Special Investigating Unit (SIU), acting in terms of Proclamation No. 154 of 2024, has identified a total of fifteen (15) individuals for investigation in relation to allegations of irregular, fraudulent and/or unlawful acquisition of immigration benefits,” Schreiber said.
He noted that the SIU had recorded the individuals under the category of religious leaders, including pastors and prophets, but had not separated them into different categories for reporting purposes.
“The SIU has not distinguished between ‘foreign religious leaders’ and pastors/prophets for purposes of its investigation.
‘‘The SIU has advised that the terms ‘pastor’ and ‘prophet’ were used interchangeably in the investigated matters and are not reported as separate categories,” Schreiber said.
Schreiber added the immigration benefits linked to the investigations included temporary residence visas, permanent residence permits and other related immigration benefits administered under the Immigration Act, 2002.
However, the minister said the department could not disclose the identities of those investigated or details of the specific benefits they received because some matters remained under investigation and others had been referred to the NPA.
“The specific particulars relating to each individual form part of ongoing investigations and, in certain instances, matters that have been referred to the NPA,” Schreiber said.
“The disclosure of person-specific details at this stage may prejudice ongoing investigations and potential criminal proceedings.
‘‘The Department will therefore provide such additional information to Parliament once the relevant investigative and prosecutorial processes permit disclosure,” he added.
