MBABANE – The Ministry of Home Affairs has suspended five immigration officers, including a deputy chief immigration officer, over the alleged irregular issuance of permits to foreign nationals.
The officers are Deputy Chief Immigration Officer Sandile Mazibuko, Senior Immigration Officer Victor Jabulani Mkhabela, Assistant Immigration Officer Misiwe Jele, Assistant Immigration Officer Sihle Nkosi and Assistant Immigration Officer Ayanda Khumalo. The suspension, which is with pay, is for six months.
They officers are accused of allegedly having a hand in the unlawful processing and issuance of permits to over 100 foreign nationals without the required supporting documentation.
Their suspension follows their appearance before the Simanga Mamba-led Civil Service Commission (CSC), which, after hearing them, invoked Section 58 (1) (b) of the Public Service Act No.5 of 2018. This section provides for the suspension of a public officer from duty, with full pay, pending the outcome of investigations or disciplinary proceedings.
According to information gathered, the officers are facing allegations of dishonesty and failure to adhere to established immigration procedures in the processing of permits.
It is alleged that preliminary investigations found that usernames belonging to some of the officers, particularly junior staff, were used to process and print permits, including work permits, without the required supporting documents.
The permits are said to have been issued to foreign nationals who allegedly did not meet the necessary requirements as stipulated under the country’s immigration laws and regulations.
Further allegations indicate that some of the officers may have either directly processed the permits or allowed the process to proceed without proper verification of documents.
One of the suspended officers is also accused of directing information technology personnel within the ministry to allow an officer, who had already been suspended, to continue accessing and utilising the government system used for processing permits.
It is alleged that the officer continued to use the system despite being barred from duty at the time, raising concerns about internal controls and access to sensitive government systems.
Senior officers are also alleged to have allowed the processing of permits without ensuring that all required supporting documents were in place, a move said to be in violation of established procedures.
The suspensions, which are with full pay, are pending the outcome of further internal investigations launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs into the alleged corrupt practices within the department.
The ministry confirmed the development through its Communications Officer Mlandvo Dlamini.
“I can confirm that these officers have been suspended from work pending further investigations,” said Dlamini.
He said the disciplinary process was ongoing and extended beyond the five officers who had been suspended.
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