The increase of sham marriages as a vehicle for immigration fraud

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) progress report exposed how foreign national used fraudulent marriages to secure permanent residency in South Africa. A SIU progress report presented to President Cyril Ramaphosa has shown how sham marriages are used as a vehicle for foreign nationals to secure permanent residency in South Africa. The report highlights that fraudulent marriages and life partnerships are primary mechanisms for the immigration fraud, often involving foreign “pastors and prophets” who would enter on visitor visas before entering into unions to secure Permanent Residence Permits (PRPs).

Corrupt officials and religious leaders collaborated to facilitate “marriages of convenience” and fraudulent life partnerships. The findings follow aninterim report submitted in February, which detailed how South Africa’s immigration system had been sold to the highest bidder, with officials earning less than R25 000 per month allegedly receiving over R16.3 million in direct deposits. The SIU described the immigration system as a “marketplace” where marriage certificates and residency permits were sold for fees ranging from R500 to R3 000. The investigation uncovered that more than 630 000 foreign nationals may be living in South Africa illegally due to these schemes.