South Africa Overhauls Visa System After Decades of Corruption and Fraud
South Africa's visa system has faced nearly 20 years of mismanagement and corruption, according to a recent investigation. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) uncovered widespread malfeasance between 2004 and February 2024, revealing how a largely manual, paper-based process allowed fraud to thrive. In response, the Department of Home Affairs has launched a new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system to tighten controls and modernise visa processing.
The SIU's findings exposed how a small group of officials exploited weaknesses in the old system. Gaps in oversight and manual record-keeping enabled corruption, severely damaging the integrity of South Africa's immigration controls. Disciplinary actions are now underway, with some staff already dismissed and thousands of fraudulent student visas set for revocation.
To combat these issues, the ministry introduced the ETA system, which currently applies to travellers aged 18 or older from China, India, Indonesia, and Mexico. These visitors must hold a valid ordinary passport and enter through designated South African airports. The system relies on advanced technology, including machine learning, facial recognition, and automated rule-based checks to detect fraudulent applications.
Since its launch, the ETA has already rejected over 30,000 applications that failed to meet tourist visa requirements. The ministry's long-term goal is to replace all paper-based processing with a fully digital, biometrically secured platform by the end of the government's current term. Eventually, the ETA will become the central gateway for all tourist visas, phasing out parallel processing at diplomatic missions.
The shift to a digital visa system marks a major change in how South Africa manages immigration. With stricter fraud detection and automated checks, the ETA aims to restore trust in the process. The ministry's push for full digitisation by the end of its term signals a move away from the vulnerabilities of the past.
