Home Affairs Official
By Thabo Mosia
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – The Durban Commercial Crime Court has sentenced former Home Affairs official Judy Zuma to an effective 12 years imprisonment. The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, has lauded this sentence as a crucial step in eradicating corruption within the department.
“The message sent by this conviction is crystal clear: if you engage in corruption, we will find you and we will pursue you until you are locked up. Under this new administration, we will not rest until we have cleansed the scourge of corruption from the face of Home Affairs,” Minister Schreiber declared. He further emphasised that “Yesterday’s sentence must inaugurate a new culture of zero-tolerance towards corruption. The fight against corruption in this department is particularly urgent given that Home Affairs sits at the heart of our national security apparatus.”
Details of the Case
Judy Zuma, 47, was convicted for her involvement in a syndicate that issued fraudulent passports to foreign nationals who did not qualify for them. Between 28 May and 12 June 2021, Zuma processed 192 fraudulent passports, charging R4,000 for each, and amassing over R700,000. Her arrest followed a sting operation where she attempted to bribe a Home Affairs Counter-Corruption Officer with R10,000. The National Hawks Anti-Corruption Unit spearheaded the investigation, leading to her conviction on multiple counts of corruption, fraud, and breaches of the Immigration Act and the Identification Act.
Sentencing and Reactions
Magistrate Garth Davis, while delivering the sentence, remarked on the severity of Zuma’s actions. “The offences that Zuma committed are serious, and her moral blameworthiness is reprehensible. She conducted herself in a manner that brought the department into disrepute when she was hired to uphold and protect the integrity of the population register,” he stated. Zuma’s defence, led by Ben Dlamini, argued for leniency, citing her remorse and loss of employment. However, Senior State Advocate Abbey Letsholo insisted on a lengthy imprisonment term, highlighting Zuma’s duty to protect the integrity of South African passports.
The court handed down a 12-year direct imprisonment sentence, with an additional 24 years suspended. This strict penalty underscores the government’s commitment to tackling corruption. Schreiber reinforced this stance, stating, “The crackdown on both officials and foreign nationals involved in this fraudulent syndicate strengthens our resolve to support the work of the Counter-Corruption Branch of the Department. The successful convictions demonstrate that the cancer of corruption can be defeated.”
Impact and Future Measures
All fraudulent passports issued by Zuma have been red-flagged, ensuring that anyone attempting to use these documents at ports of entry will be immediately arrested. So far, two foreign nationals have been imprisoned, and another two were sentenced to four years each for their involvement in the scheme. To enhance the security of travel documents, the Department of Home Affairs introduced a new measure in 2022 requiring passports to be activated via fingerprints at the office of application.
It is alleged that Zuma was recruited into this corrupt scheme by another former Home Affairs official, Zima Shange, who received a 10-year imprisonment sentence in October 2023. Schreiber expressed his disgust at the actions of corrupt officials, stating, “I am repulsed by the actions of Zuma and other members of such syndicates, who cheapen our documents, threaten our security, and undermine the work done by committed Home Affairs officials. May she be haunted by her actions every day that she spends behind bars.”
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