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IOL News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
How illegal immigration and cross-border crime threaten South Africa's future
Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, whose department is at the centre of enforcing immigration laws. Image: Parliament of SA South Africa is being hollowed out by illegal immigration and cross-border crimes such as human trafficking, drug smuggling, arms trafficking, vehicle theft, livestock theft, and illicit goods, among others, stemming from porous borders, according to experts. However, the biggest source of porosity comes from state actors, such as immigration officers, the military, and border policing, who are being corrupted and taking bribes from criminal syndicates, and allowing illicit goods into the country. Willem Els, a senior training coordinator in the ENACT organised crime programme at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), said South African borders are some of the most porous in the region, and there is a whole illicit economy centred around illegal immigration that is being facilitated by the porosity of the country's borders. 'In South Africa, our land borders are extremely porous. Illegal cigarettes, counterfeit goods, and drugs mostly come through official borders at the Lebombo bridge and so on. At the ports of entry in airports, some immigration officials are corrupt and taking bribes from criminal syndicates. For instance, when people come into the country, they have passports. And whenever you have a passport, it must be scanned and registered in the system to record that someone has come to South Africa. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading 'But the corrupt officials take the passport and stamp it. After taking the money, they don't scan the passport, which leaves the country with no record of that person entering South Africa. So, it is that type of corruption that is eating away our livelihood because of the crime issue that is affecting everyone, and it's really hurting the economy,' Els said. He warned that the illicit economy is growing so large that it might one day even exceed the formal economy in some areas, which would harm the country and the economy because no taxes are being collected from the illicit economy. The tax can only be collected from the formal economy. The taxes are paid for the poor and other services. These people are coming here and benefiting from everything without contributing, and they are taking the money out of South Africa and sending it back to their countries. This is draining our economy, Els said. 'Also, if you are a terrorist and you are meant to be on the watch list of the Interpol, etc., you are not going to use a normal port to run, you are going to cross the river. So, we don't know how many terrorists are in South Africa, because we don't have the record of that. The only way you can have records is if records are officially captured. 'If you look at the illegal migration people, many of them are of military age. The Ethiopians, for instance, quite a few of them were arrested in South Africa in the past year, more than 100 at the time. The challenge is that these individuals pose a threat due to their military background. 'We know nothing about them because it has not been captured. So it creates a real uncertainty environment within law enforcement if we don't have all those facts. It's creating challenges for us because we cannot pre-empt any threat, and also when we have to react to a threat, we still don't know what we are faced with,' Els said. He added that what has been found with the arrested illegal immigrants, especially from Ethiopia, is that it takes them up to three months, sometimes three years, to reach South Africa. Some walk to South Africa. Some pay up to $12 000 (just over R200,000) to the syndicates to smuggle them into South Africa. And then just before they reach South Africa, they are ambushed and all their passports and their money and everything stolen, and then they are trafficked into South Africa, and sold by these criminal syndicates to work in illicit jobs or forced into the sex industry. In an African context, many illegal migrants come from Zimbabwe, but some originate from Sudan, Somalia, and other countries. So, we can't just look at the Southern African Development Community; we have to look at the rest of Africa and enforce our regional cooperation with them to curb this problem. So, there is a whole illicit economy centred around illegal immigration, but all that is being facilitated by the porosity of our borders, he added. According to the recent Numbeo Crime Index, South Africa is the most crime-affected country on the African continent, with a crime index score of 74.7, and ranked fifth in the world. Els said criminality is through the roof, and it is also reflected in the crime statistics. 'So we are not saying that all the crimes are committed by foreigners, but when you are South African, you have an ID or driver's licence, and your biometrics are captured, including fingerprints. However, with the undocumented foreign nationals, we don't have anything. Whenever the police are investigating, they use physical evidence like fingerprints or something like that, but with undocumented foreigners, police have got nowhere to go, and that is a problem when investigating criminal cases where foreign nationals are involved,' he said. But why such a large influx of illegal immigrants to South Africa? Els said most people on the African continent see South Africa as the land of milk and honey, and yet 'we' all know what the situation is with the jobs and unemployment in this country. 'South Africa has got the infrastructure, a developed system, and all things that make it conducive for growth for people who work to make money, and also for the criminals to come to South Africa and exploit our systems to launder money, etc. 'The problem with illegal immigrants is that once the people are in the country, they become that country's problem. If we cannot prevent them from coming into the country, it is now entirely our problem. So, we allow them to become our challenges, and then this costs money, costs effort,' he said. Els added that political will is crucial to stop porous borders, along with a better coordination strategy with other state entities, sufficient budget, capacity building (human capital, ensuring people are trained), and investing in technology. 'We need to tackle corruption as the number one enemy. We can have a comprehensive counter-corruption strategy with consequences; people found guilty of corruption must be fired or receive a warning. We should come down hard on corruption. There should be consequences. Corrupt officials should serve jail time,' Els said. He added that Dr Leon Schreiber, minister of Home Affairs, has demonstrated political will to curb these problems since taking office over a year ago. Actions such as Operation New Broom have been promising through utilising technology for enhanced enforcement of immigration issues, digitisation, and biometric data, while not circumventing suspects' rights. He said that it will take a long time, effort, money, and hard work to turn the ship around because the problem has reached high levels. Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, founder of March and March civic organisation, whose members have embarked on nationwide protests blocking illegal immigrants from accessing services in public healthcare facilities, saying that the government is not prioritising its citizens, said the government is not serious about fighting illegal immigration. The South African Human Rights Commission criticised the protests. 'If the government is serious about fighting illegal immigration, it must seal the borders and do mass deportations. One thing that is going to make sure that everyone who is not here has no opportunity to abuse our system and our country is to close all the taps, in terms of schooling, medical care, jobs, and all other services. South Africans must take priority. 'Illegal immigrants must go to the private sector healthcare facilities, pay, and take care of themselves. If this is to be effected, there will never be people rushing to this country if they know that there are strict laws. The government must also put stringent laws on employers who are employing undocumented foreigners, and there must be a hefty penalty, like taking away operating licences, jail time, etc,' Ngobese-Zuma said. The Institute of Race Relations (IRR) called on the government to get back to basics, secure its borders, and protect the country from external forces, as porous borders are a symptom of the abdication of this responsibility. Makone Maja, IRR's strategic engagements manager, said South Africans' frustrations with the presence of illegal immigrants seem to be closely linked to the lack of economic growth, job opportunities, and improvement in government services. 'The mounting pressures on social services from health to education, and the sense from disgruntled citizens that more services would be catered to them if they weren't being shared with illegal foreigners. 'The government's neglect of enforcing the immigration laws has also led to this frustration and the itch for communities to take the law into their own hands. This also need not be. Any democratic government's first duty is to secure its borders and protect its country from external forces,' Maja said. A request for comment was sent to the Department of Home Affairs over a week ago, but there was no response. Reminders were also ignored.
The Citizen
17-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Calls to probe R131 million police sick leave bill
Criminologist Willem Els said the situation was a problem within the police. The South African Police Service (Saps) has been lambasted for spending more than R131 million on absent police officers. According to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, the hefty amount has been spent on police members who have been on paid sick leave for more than six months during the 2023-24 financial year. Criminologists said it was not a problem to look after the police, but said the matter should be investigated. The staggering figure was revealed by Mchunu when responding to questions in parliament. He conceded the total number of Saps employees – who were on paid sick leave for the period under review – was 618. Prof Witness Maluleke, a senior criminologist from the University of Limpopo, said: 'The spent money is channelled to good use, as they are still police members until declared unfit and incapacitated. 'It is hoped that they will recover to add numbers to the already stretched Saps population. It should be noted that the Saps ratio to the citizens cannot be achieved and the mission of fighting crime remains an impossible mandate for the Saps.' Extended leave Crime investigator Chad Thomas said that it was concerning that some police members were on extended leave. 'For the sake of the physical and mental well-being of the members, it needs to be established which members should be medically boarded or not,' said Thomas. Criminologist Willem Els said the situation was a problem within the police. 'According to regulations within the police, whenever you are on sick leave you have the benefit of going on sick leave as part of your service agreement,' said Els. 'But should your commander believe or have a hint that you are abusing the system, they are under the obligation to take you to the district surgeon. 'Then, the district surgeon will see you and will be asked to give a verdict to either confirm your medical condition, or to write a statement that you are actually not as sick as you claim to be.' ALSO READ: About 5 300 police officers leave the Saps annually, parliament told Misuse of public funds DA deputy spokesperson on the police, Lisa-Maré Schickerling, said the expenditure was shocking and a misuse of public funds which demands urgent accountability. 'The DA demands that the minister of police launch an independent audit to investigate.' NOW READ: Here's how much government paid capped, sick leave to employees in the public service
The Citizen
30-05-2025
- The Citizen
Police officers charged with serious crimes remain on active duty as parliament demands reform
The presence of accused officers undermines the entire police service's integrity and effectiveness. The South African Police Service (Saps) faces mounting pressure to remove officers accused of serious criminal offences from active duty, with Parliament's portfolio committee on police demanding urgent Section 34 inquiries to determine fitness for service. The crisis has exposed deep systemic issues in Saps, where officers charged with rape, attempted murder and drug trafficking continue serving in frontline roles while public trust erodes. Criminology expert Willem Els warns that allowing accused officers to remain in uniform sends a dangerous message to communities. 'When the public sees that these officers are still in uniform after being accused of serious crimes like rape and all the others, it demonstrates to them or it gives them the impression that they are above the law and there's no accountability,' Els said. Specific examples of criminally charged police officers' cases The portfolio committee has identified multiple cases where officers facing grave charges continue their duties unimpeded. These include a police constable out on bail for rape who remains stationed at a local facility and an acting station commander facing charges of attempted murder and torture who retains his post. Other cases highlighted by committee chairperson Ian Cameron include a member who was caught selling police docket and later arrested for drunk driving while suspended, but has since returned to work. Furthermore, a court orderly found with over 900 Mandrax tablets continues deployment at a central Cape Town station, while a detective out on bail for drug dealing has reportedly resumed his duties. 'We cannot accept a situation where the police service turns a blind eye to such serious allegations, especially where the charges suggest direct involvement in violent or organised criminal activity,' Cameron said during recent committee engagements with the ministry of police and senior Saps management. ALSO READ: 1 police vehicle and 30 officers sharing 4 cellphones: Cape Town's crime struggle Constitutional challenges and legal framework The situation presents complex legal challenges rooted in South Africa's constitutional framework. Els acknowledges the fundamental principle that individuals remain innocent until proven guilty, creating inherent difficulties in addressing the crisis. However, Els suggests legislative reforms could address these challenges. 'Our legislation seems that it protects these officers more than it is supposed to, but that is our constitution, that is our law,' he explained, proposing immediate suspension once officers are charged with serious crimes to enhance transparency and public trust. During the committee meeting, national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola revealed a loophole that occurs allowing investigated officers to return to duty. 'Quite often, it happens that a departmental case lasts longer than 90 days. As you are aware that in terms of regulations suspension can only take 90 days and then it does happen that if the departmental case is not finalized, such a member comes back to work but normally we don't place that member at the same place where he was working,' he said. ALSO READ: Captain accused of raping trainee at Tshwane Police Academy suspended without pay Ipid response and jurisdictional boundaries The Independent Police Investigative Directorate clarified its role in addressing officers working while facing serious charges, emphasising that employment decisions rest with Saps as the employer. Ipid's mandate focuses on investigation and recommendation rather than direct disciplinary action. 'We are only investigating and once investigated, if it's a criminal offence, we refer the docket to the NPA for a decision. If there's a case to answer from an employer's perspective, we make recommendations to say can you please act against your member,' Ipid spokesperson Lizzy Shupin said. Shupin acknowledged the complexity of cases where court processes take extended periods of time, noting that criminal court outcomes can override internal Saps decisions. 'Sometimes we find that the state court might say they did not find their member guilty if it's a criminal offence. And you find that court processes take long and then the court finds the person guilty and sentences them to whatever number of years, then that would automatically overrule the Saps decision,' she said. ALSO READ: Mchunu to release SA's fourth quarterly crime stats Impact on police effectiveness and public safety The presence of accused officers undermines the entire police service's integrity and effectiveness. Els warned that such situations create 'a culture of impunity within the service, discourages whistleblowing and cooperation from the public and reporting of cases if they can't trust the police.' Echoing Els' sentiments, the committee emphasised that effective crime fighting requires removing officers accused of serious crimes to ensure only committed personnel remain in service. This becomes particularly critical given Saps' mandate to restore credibility and reestablish community collaboration. Proposed solutions and reforms Els recommends several immediate measures, including fast-tracking disciplinary hearings that currently experience lengthy delays. 'Maybe they should look at bringing external presiding officers from the judiciary to oversee these cases and to hear these cases in order to fast track them,' he suggested. The criminologist said risk assessments for officers on bail should bar them from public-facing duties, while standardised procedures could ensure automatic suspension for any officer charged with serious misconduct. 'If a police officer is charged with any serious misconduct, they should be automatically suspended. That will bring about a uniform sort of procedures,' Els explained. ALSO READ: Two Cape Town police officers arrested for kidnapping foreign national Oversight and accountability mechanisms Ipid requires significant strengthening to address these challenges effectively. Els notes that Ipid has been 'stripped of a lot of their resources, underfunded, undermanned' and needs rebuilding to fulfill its oversight role properly. He added that parliamentary oversight committees could play more robust roles in holding police accountable, while international best practices from countries like the UK and Canada demonstrate the effectiveness of independent oversight bodies and mandatory reporting requirements for officer misconduct. Systemic issues and cultural reform The crisis reflects deeper problems within Saps' culture and recruitment processes. Els identifies poor vetting, substandard training, political interference, cronyism and nepotism as underlying problems. 'Political interference, cronyism and nepotism within the police is still very, very high. That is why the police service in South Africa is regarded as the most corrupt state body in South Africa,' he said. Els added that training standards have deteriorated significantly over the past two decades, requiring benchmarking against international standards. ALSO READ: Alleged rape at police academy: Popcru calls for transparency and justice Station-level accountability The committee has resolved to extend oversight to individual police stations, with plans for a special meeting with the Fleurhof station commander following allegations of an inadequate response in the case of missing 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek. 'Crime happens at police station level and while leadership of the SAPS at the national and provincial level must be held accountable, so are officers at the station level,' Cameron emphasised, highlighting the need for accountability at all operational levels. Broader criminal justice concerns Beyond officer misconduct, the committee remains concerned about disparities between arrests and convictions, indicating systemic failures throughout the criminal justice system. The lack of effective plans to combat gang-related violence, which significantly contributes to South Africa's high murder rates, requires urgent attention. 'There is no question that gang violence is a major contributor to the high murder rates in the country. An effective response plan must be developed and urgently implemented to combat gang-related violence,' Cameron said. Path forward Els warns that without addressing these fundamental issues, the problems will persist indefinitely. 'If we don't tackle that, we will be sitting here 10 years from now and we will asking and talking about the same challenges,' he said. The committee continues advocating for enhanced collaboration between SAPS and other government agencies, including the South African Revenue Service, to combat organised crime effectively. Additionally, concerns about lengthy vehicle maintenance periods highlight the need for adequate resources and tools to support police operations. NOW READ: 'It's a joke': KZN detective guilty of plotting commissioner's murder dismisses 10-year sentence
The Citizen
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
SA ‘must take lead against terrorism'
Analysts say the terrorism risk forum gives South Africa a chance to restore credibility amid ongoing terror funding cases. Highlighted English word 'terrorism' and its definition at the dictionary. Picture: iStock Hosting a conference on terrorism has afforded South Africa a chance to clear its image. This is the view of criminologists and experts who commended SA for being the first African country to host the International Forum of Terrorism Risk Insurance Pools conference in Cape Town recently. The event was staged by state-owned South African Special Risks Insurance Association and attended by leaders from sovereign-backed terrorism reinsurance pools, senior policymakers, global reinsurers and risk management experts. Clearing SA's name against terrorism allegations Criminologists said the conference afforded the country a chance to clear its name on allegations of terrorism that some of its citizens were accused of. Witness Maluleke, head of the department of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Limpopo, said: 'Our security systems should be strictly safeguarded against potential terrorist threats and this platform will allow South African representatives to learn more about best proactive and reactive strategies of responding to future events.' ALSO READ: Iran haunts MTN and SA Willem Els, an expert from the Institute for Security Studies, said it was good that South Africa was allowed to take a lead role by hosting the event. The country currently has two terrorism cases in court and the country is greylisted because 'we were not living up to our mandate in terms of countering terror funding as well as money laundering', he said. 'We are part of a global system. So, South Africa, as the leader in Africa, has to take the lead in this as well,' said Els. SA has to take the lead in this It was essential to host such a conference as the country had recently experienced a situation in which the US Treasury sanctioning various people due to terror funding allegations, he said. 'It is high time South Africa gets its house in order when it comes to countering terrorism because we are not isolated.' ALSO READ: Isis allegedly behind beheadings, destruction of luxury SA-owned hunting camp in Mozambique Speaking at the same event, former international relations and cooperation minister and current chair of the Nelson Mandela Foundation Naledi Pandor called for a global collaboration to address political instability. There were growing risks associated with political instability and said there was a need for the leaders to work together to mitigate the challenges, she said. Growing risks associated with political instability 'Leaders must take responsibility for fostering a more stable global environment. The world's political landscape has shifted in alarming ways, with growing instability and uncertainty now taking centre stage.' Pandor said the private sector must collaborate with governments and multilateral institutions to mitigate the growing risks.
