MBABANE, April 8, 2026 – The Ministry of Home Affairs has placed five officers from the Immigration Department on temporary suspension as internal investigations gather pace over suspected irregularities in the issuing of residence permits.
The announcement was made on Wednesday through a press statement released by the Principal Secretary, N.R. Nxumalo, from the ministry’s offices at the Home Affairs Justice Building along Mhlambanyatsi Road in Mbabane.
According to the statement, preliminary inquiries have revealed that the user IDs of the five officers appear frequently in connection with certain alleged illegally issued resident permits. The ministry has since instituted internal investigations to determine the circumstances under which the permits were processed and approved. 
“The Ministry of Home Affairs wishes to inform the general public that five officers from the Immigration Department have been placed on temporary suspension pending internal investigations,” reads the statement.
The ministry stated that the affected officers remain Government employees and members of staff within Home Affairs. “They are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law,” the statement reads.
Officials said the decision to suspend the officers was taken as a precautionary step to allow investigations to proceed freely and without interference. Government indicated that the measure is meant to safeguard the integrity of the investigative process while facts are being established.
The ministry further stated that it remains committed to transparency, accountability and upholding the rule of law as the matter unfolds.
