The Hawks swooped into the Pretoria High Court this week amid serious allegations that one of its employees has been helping undocumented foreign nationals avoid deportation—by issuing fake legal documents.
This shocking development has raised alarms about the extent of corruption within South Africa’s immigration and justice systems. Experts say it’s part of a much wider problem.
Fraud Dressed as Justice
According to Hannes Breytenbach, a senior immigration consultant and founder of Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants, these kinds of forged court papers have been turning up for years. “They look official, but they’re legally worthless,” he explained. Often, they buy the holders a little more time before deportation, but ultimately, they create confusion and false hope.
What’s especially troubling, Breytenbach said, is that these documents are being generated from within the courts themselves—giving them a dangerous appearance of legitimacy.
During the raid, the Hawks focused on a specific office and suspect believed to be at the center of this operation.
“This kind of misconduct not only undermines our legal and immigration systems, but it also puts vulnerable people at even greater risk,” Breytenbach warned.
Calls for Change
He believes a few key steps are necessary to address the problem:
Thorough Investigations: Let law enforcement fully uncover and prosecute those responsible, especially if organized crime is involved.
Stronger Oversight: Tighter controls are needed in courts and immigration offices, including secure access systems and regular audits.
Public Awareness: Educate foreign nationals about the dangers of using untrustworthy intermediaries offering “quick fixes.”
Support for Victims: Many of those caught up in this fraud have been exploited. There should be legal support for those misled.
“We applaud the Hawks for acting swiftly. This should send a clear message: corruption in our immigration system won’t be tolerated,” Breytenbach said.
A Broken System?
Immigration lawyer Ashraf Essop didn’t mince words, saying the scandal shows just how deeply corruption has seeped into the justice system. “We need to stop this now.”
Professor Loren Landau, a migration expert, added that such fraud is the result of a broken system—where getting legal documentation is almost impossible for many. This, he said, creates space for corruption to thrive, as officials exploit desperate migrants by making documentation inaccessible unless paid for.
Government Responds
The Department of Justice praised the Hawks for their work. Spokesperson Terrance Manase said Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi supports the Office of the Chief Justice fully in its mission to remove bad actors from the judiciary.
“The law must be followed carefully and thoroughly,” Manase stated. “If this person is found guilty, we’ll be one step closer to restoring public trust.”
As of now, investigators are still reviewing the documents they seized during the raid, according to Hawks spokesperson Katlego Mogale.