CAPE TOWN, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi on Thursday applauded an ongoing crackdown on corrupt immigration officials, saying his ministry takes zero tolerance towards corruption.
"The Department does not tolerate corruption and malfeasance and action is taken whenever we become aware of such," Motsoaledi said.
He was speaking following the sentencing of two former employees at the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) - Steven Boshego and Leseba Malekane - earlier this week. They were each sentenced to a five-year jail term.
Boshego, an administration clerk working at the KwaMhlanga office in Mpumalanga Province, was convicted of fraud at the KwaMhlanga Magistrate Court following his arrest for selling birth certificates to foreign nationals.
Malekane, an immigration officer at the Boksburg office in Gauteng Province, was convicted of unprocedurally releasing foreign nationals who were being processed for deportation, in exchange for money.
Thanks to the good work of law enforcement officers, the department has two less corrupt individuals who are now behind bars, where they belong to, Motsoaledi said.
A number of immigration officials have been arrested recently during an intensified crackdown directed at corruption at the DHA.
Last month, a sting operation by the police led to the arrest of another DHA official Sam Langa, who is accused of demanding a bribe from a foreign businessman who was in South Africa illegally.
Motsoaledi encouraged the public to approach the police when they pick up instances of corruption perpetuated by any of DHA officials.
"We shall continue to work with law enforcement agencies to ensure that corrupt individuals are duly punished following due process," he said.
The minister vowed to rid the DHA of people who have corrupt intentions.
