Question NW2804 to the Minister of Home Affairs

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22 September 2022 - NW2804

Profile picture: Roos, Mr AC

Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs

(1)With reference to his department’s briefing to the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs on 12 July 2022 on the review of permits issued since 2014, which highlighted widespread fraud, fake users being created on the system, key logging and identity theft and that staff of his department was operating a visa fraud syndicate, with most of the alleged perpetrators still working in permitting to this day, what (a) is the timeframe to complete the in-depth investigation and (b) processes have been put in place to halt the fraudulent activity given that the outdated systems and corrupt staff remain in place; (2) whether the investigations will include staff who have left the department since the commencement of the investigation; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether he will take steps to institute criminal charges against both current staff and former staff where prima facie evidence of criminal wrongdoing is found; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

(1)(a) The report from the Ministerial Review Committee was received by the Department, which outlined areas for further investigation. The report’s main recommendation is that a Multi-Disciplinary Task Team be appointed to conduct an in-depth investigation into the identified areas. The appointment of the Multi-Disciplinary Task Team is at an advanced stage. The Task Team is to consist of experienced senior counsels, forensic investigators, Data analyst and other related skills. The time frame to complete the investigation will be determined once the multi-disciplinary team is appointed following a procurement process.

(b) The following has been implemented:

Access control: All users have been requested to re-apply for user access to the Visa Adjudication System (VAS) to process permits and Visas online. This will limit abuse and access. Authorisation only granted to those approved to use the system to avoid ghost users

Fake users will be probed by the multidisciplinary team through data analytics/system analysis.

Legacy: DHA is in the process of implementing a new biometric information system called ABIS (Automated Biometric Information Sysem). The system will host information from the following: HANIS, NIIS, VAS and MCS.

Recommendations from the Nexia SAB&T investigation report on key loggers will be pursued by the Multi- Disciplinary Task Team.

(2) This will be determined once the Multi–Disciplinary Task Team has completed their investigation.

(3) This will be determined once the Multi- Disciplinary Task Team has completed their investigation.

END

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