Handwritten Visa Scandal Leads to Deportation of 95 Libyans Amid Security Concerns

In a developing story that has raised concerns over the integrity of South Africa’s immigration system, Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has been briefed about a major irregularity where 95 Libyans were granted handwritten study visas and have now been deported. This matter unfolded when it was discovered that these individuals were granted entry into South Africa via manually processed visas due to a system outage at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s (Dirco) mission in Tunis.

The incident came to light following the arrival of 100 Libyans in total, who were issued visas to attend the Milites Dei Academy in Mpumalanga. Of these, three were immediately sent back following interviews upon their arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport, and two did not arrive in the country.

The remaining 95 Libyans arrived in groups on various dates through O.R. Tambo Airport. Although intended to stay for six months, these individuals were subsequently deported after an investigation revealed the compromise in visa protocol. According to reports, the embassy official in Tunis failed to seek appropriate consultation and confirmation from the Department of Home Affairs before issuing the visas. This has led to an ongoing investigation, and officials from Dirco, the State Security Agency, and the Department of Home Affairs are set to examine the documents submitted to the Tunis embassy.

Moreover, Dr. Mike Masiapato, Commissioner of the Border Management Authority, revealed that between January and August 2024, there was a total influx of 588 Libyans through major South African airports, with 125 still in the country as of mid-August.

Currently, South African ports of entry have increased vigilance to monitor the movement of Libyan nationals due to security concerns raised by this incident and the discovery of a military training camp involving some of the Libyans.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber criticized the outdated system, which relies on paper-based and manual operations, making it susceptible to fraud. He pointed out that the lack of digitization and reliance on outdated methods is inconsistent with the technological advancements available in 2024.

This issue has highlighted an urgent need for the digital transformation of the Department of Home Affairs to prevent repetitive instances of visa fraud, identity theft, and corruption. The criticism underlines the necessity for South Africa to employ modern technology such as machine learning to verify documents and improve the overall efficiency and security of the immigration process.