Home Affairs dismisses 18 officials
The Department of Home Affairs on Wednesday dismissed 18 officials, effective immediately, for a range of offences, including fraud, corruption and sexual harassment.
Four more officials were issued final written warnings, two of which carry a one- and three-month salary suspension, respectively.
Another two officials received written warnings.
The dismissals and disciplinary action follow the department's conclusion of all human resource and appeals processes.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the dismissal and disciplining of officials forms part of the department’s clampdown on corruption, fraud and maladministration.
"The dismissals follow from a series of recent convictions and reflect the intensification of cooperation between the Department of Home Affairs, the Special Investigating Unit, and the Hawks. Where prosecutable offences have been committed, the dockets will be referred for criminal prosecution, while Home Affairs also continues to work on measures to recover ill-gotten gains from perpetrators."
Schreiber added that the dismissals are to send a clear message that the days where acts of fraud and corruption are committed with impunity at Home Affairs are over.
"Dismissals and prosecutions are set to continue ramping up until we have squeezed crime and corruption out of the system."
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