Jacinta Zuma Speaks Out Strongly Against Home Affairs Corruption & Claims South Africa Is Being Sold

A post attributed to Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma on X has renewed debate over corruption in South Africa’s immigration system, alleging that the country is being sold to foreign nationals and accusing those who defend what it describes as an invasion of acting against the country’s interests.

The post also refers to insults directed at its author and links the claims to corruption at the Department of Home Affairs. It does not identify particular officials, transactions or foreign nationals, nor does it provide evidence for the assertion that South Africa is being sold. The allegation should therefore not be treated as an established finding.

However, concerns about fraud and corruption in immigration processes have been raised separately by investigators. In a presentation to Parliament in March 2026, the Special Investigating Unit described alleged networks exploiting weaknesses in visa and citizenship systems. Its investigation covered permanent residence, business and work visas, study visas and citizenship by naturalisation, among other areas. The SIU reported patterns involving falsified documents and alleged bribery of department officials to overlook irregularities or speed up applications.

The parliamentary account also said the department had referred irregularities identified through data analysis to the SIU for investigation. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber told the committee that electronic screening systems had rejected applications for issues including suspected passport fraud and mismatched photographs. The reported findings point to vulnerabilities in specific processes; they do not, on their own, establish the broader claim that the country is being sold.

Individual cases have also resulted in criminal convictions. In 2024, a Home Affairs employee in Durban was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges including corruption and fraud linked to a passport fraud scheme involving foreign nationals. That case demonstrates that criminal activity has occurred within the department, but it does not prove the sweeping claims made in the X post.

The post’s framing also reflects a wider political debate about migration, border enforcement and access to public services. These issues are often discussed together, but allegations about immigration fraud require evidence specific to each case. South African citizens and migrants alike may be affected by irregular documentation, while accusations directed at groups of foreign nationals risk blurring the distinction between lawful migration and criminal conduct.

The department and law-enforcement agencies have the responsibility to investigate suspected wrongdoing, identify those involved and make their findings public through appropriate channels. Until specific evidence supports the claims made in the post, they remain allegations. The SIU’s reported investigation provides documented evidence of suspected wrongdoing in parts of the immigration system, but not confirmation that South Africa is being sold to foreigners.

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