South Africa’s immigration system has been turned into a marketplace where permits and visas are allegedly sold to the highest bidder. That is the stark finding presented before an official inquiry by the Home Affairs department. Delivering an interim report on the issuing of permanent residence permits and visas - Acting Special Investigating Unit (SIU) head, Leonard Lekgetho, says the SIU has uncovered widespread corruption within Home Affairs. The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, says disciplinary processes against all implicated individuals are ongoing and the Department is looking to cancel over 2 000 study visas that were identified as fraudulently issued through these syndicates.