Source: https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2022-05-23-home-affairs-official-four-others-bust-for-passport-fraud/
Five people have been arrested on suspicion of creating fake South African passports for foreigners. Nhlanhla Mathebula, 39, Mohamed Ali, 36, Gabriel Samuel van der Merwe, 32, Christopher Marillier, 38, and Sfiso Kheswa, 30, were arrested by the Hawks on Thursday. They were apprehended in Johannesburg's Eldorado Park and White River, Mpumalanga. According to Hawks spokesperson Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, they appeared in the White River Magistrate's Court on Friday on charges of fraud, corruption, and violating the Immigration Act.
The accused allegedly recruited South Africans to supply their personal details for fraudulent South African passports for foreign nationals, led by Mathebula, a Home Affairs official, and with Ali as the alleged kingpin. According to Sekgotodi, the information was allegedly provided in exchange for payment.
According to Sekgotodi, "South African citizens would apply for the passports using their personal information and [fingerprints], but foreign nationals would be the ones who were photographed. Home Affairs officials are said to have facilitated this after-hours. The foreign nationals allegedly paid the SA citizens R500 each for using their personal information."
The case has been rescheduled for a bail hearing on Wednesday. The five people are still being held in custody. "As the investigation continues, more arrests are expected," Sekgotodi said.
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