The SIU recently revealed that South Africa’s immigration system had effectively been turned into a marketplace, where visas and permits were allegedly sold to the highest bidder. The findings have sparked renewed public interest in high profile immigration fraud cases, including that of Chabalala.

The Rise and Sudden Fall of “Mshengu”

Chabalala, once known for his flamboyant lifestyle and his Sam Holdings Group empire, drew national attention in 2019 when he arrived at the Durban July with a convoy of luxury vehicles reportedly stretching into the dozens. The spectacle reportedly triggered scrutiny from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks.

On 6 September 2019, Chabalala was arrested on charges including corruption, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, illegal entry into South Africa, and providing false information to authorities.

During his arrest, he claimed to have been born in Limpopo. Investigators later alleged he was in fact a Zimbabwean national.

The Affidavit and the Killing

Shortly after Chabalala’s arrest, his close associate and manager, Nkosinathi Ngcongo, provided a sworn affidavit to investigators. Days later, Ngcongo was shot and killed.

Court proceedings later resulted in a 15 year prison sentence for a bodyguard linked to the murder plot. However, allegations have persisted that a suspected gunman known as Khumalo has not been arrested.

Bail, Bribery Allegations and Disappearance

Chabalala was granted R200,000 bail at the Witbank Magistrate’s Court. Less than six months later, he was arrested again, this time accused of attempting to bribe a senior police officer to make his case docket disappear and return his seized vehicle.

He was granted R500,000 bail despite opposition from the State.

In March 2020, after being released on bail for the second time, Chabalala vanished.

Before disappearing, he allegedly left a note suggesting he intended to end his life near the Crocodile River or a game reserve along the N2 towards Hluhluwe. No remains were publicly confirmed, and his whereabouts remain unknown.

Authorities had reportedly secured two warrants for his arrest after he failed to appear in court.

SIU Findings on Immigration Corruption

The renewed attention comes after the SIU presented interim findings into corruption within the Department of Home Affairs.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber confirmed that the probe, authorised by Cyril Ramaphosa under Proclamation 154 of 2024, examined visa processes between October 2004 and February 2024.

Among the findings

More than 2,000 study visas were allegedly fraudulently issued

Financial benefits exceeding R181 million were traced to beneficiaries

Four officials earning under R25,000 per month reportedly received R16.3 million in unexplained deposits

Seventy five disciplinary cases were finalised over two financial years

Twenty officials were dismissed since April last year

High profile cases, including those involving Shepherd Bushiri and Timothy Omotoso, were also flagged during the investigation.

The Unanswered Question

Five years later, the mystery remains.

Is Sam “Mshengu” Chabalala dead. Did he flee the country. Or could new investigations into immigration corruption eventually reveal what really happened.

For now, the businessman who once dominated headlines has vanished, leaving behind unanswered questions, unfinished court cases, and a legal system still grappling with the full extent of alleged immigration corruption.

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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.

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