R100,000 for a South African passport? Hawks arrest suspect in alleged Home Affairs fraud scheme - IOL

The Hawks have arrested a 46-year-old foreign national who allegedly colluded with Home Affairs officials to obtain fraudulent South African passports.

A 46-year-old foreign national has been arrested for allegedly colluding with Home Affairs officials to obtain fraudulent South African passports, with officials allegedly paid up to R15,000 per application while foreign nationals were charged as much as R100,000.

The man was arrested by the Hawks during a multidisciplinary, prosecution-led takedown operation on Tuesday.

Hawks national spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the investigation began in December 2021 after the Gauteng Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit, based in Germiston, received information that a foreign national was colluding with officials from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to obtain fraudulent South African passports.

Mogale said the Hawks worked with the DHA’s Anti-Corruption Unit, based at its head office, and the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit.

“Preliminary investigation confirmed that officials from DHA and vulnerable South African citizens were recruited, then paired with foreign nationals. They photo-swapped and left personal details to legitimise the document,” Mogale said.

According to the investigation, Home Affairs officials were allegedly paid between R10,000 and R15,000 per application, while South African citizens were paid R500.

Foreign nationals were allegedly charged between R50,000 and R100,000 for the fraudulent documents.

The team registered a project dubbed “Project Humulani” on April 12, 2022. The investigation included cases registered in Krugersdorp, Kliptown, Fairlands and Tubatse, as well as an enquiry in Germiston.

“The investigation continued under the project and bore fruit wherein, for two cases, Krugersdorp and Fairlands, the alleged kingpin was traced, arrested, convicted and sentenced to 14 years’ direct imprisonment,” Mogale said.

During the project, three Toyota Fortuner SUVs were seized and several hundred passports were blocked and cancelled, she said.

The latest suspect is expected to appear in the Protea Glen Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

“The suspect will be facing charges of fraud, racketeering, corruption and contravention of the Immigration Act,” Mogale said.