ASIAN INFLUX: PS ANTHONY, OTHER OFFICERS IMPLICATED

MBABANE – In a report that will ruffle the country’s top brass, a committee of the House of Assembly has called for the immediate transfer of the PS in the Ministry of Home Affairs, a senior officer in the Interpol department and the acting chief Immigration officer.

This is according to the much awaited report of the House select committee, which was tasked with investigating the influx of illegal immigrants in the country, particularly those of Asian origin. 
The explosive report, which was tabled by the committee’s Chairperson, MP Titus Thwala, in the House yesterday, further calls for the  Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to within 30 days after the removal of the three officers, investigate all temporary residence permits, work permits and citizenship certificates issued dating back to 20 years.

The officers are the Principal Secretary (PS), who is also a reverend, Anthony Masilela, acting Chief Immigrations Officer Makhosi Simelane and senior officer in the Interpol section Senior Superintendent Christopher Lukhele, whom it was said they should be redeployed.

The report states that Masilela and Simelane were among other things alleged to be ‘floodgates’ of illegal immigrants in the country, particularly those of Asian origin.
“This they do through bribery, abuse of power in issuance of memos, visas, dependents’ pass and such related documents,” alleges the report.
These are allegations contained in the Parliament report which is yet to be debated and adopted.

On Lukhele, the committee alleged that the officer was purported to be having a corrupt relationship with the Home Affairs officials namely; Masilela and Simelane.
The committee further said the three public officials should further be investigated for abuse of power.

In its main recommendation, the ‘Asian Committee’ said the position of chief Immigration officer must be filled with utmost urgency. It said in the event that there was no one ready yet, government should consider giving a contract to a previous well serving officer until there was a substantive one.

The committee found that the post of chief Immigration officer had remained vacant for the last four years and the tasks were shared on a rotational basis by senior Immigration officers.
“The committee found that visitors-pass and dependent passes documents were used to allow immigrants into the country, who do not qualify for that status,” reads the 80-paged report.

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