Home Affairs officials in court over fake passports for Pakistani nationals

Two Home Affairs officials and a civilian have appeared in court over allegations that they helped about 10 Pakistani nationals obtain South African passports using the credentials of legitimate South African citizens.

Larrick Tirick Steward, 23, Kamohelo Gordon Sebatane, 45, and Thabiso Meshark Seutlwadi, 44, appeared briefly before the Bothaville Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday following their arrests between Monday and Tuesday.

READ: ‘People who produce fake identity documents must be jailed for life’

The trio face charges of fraud, corruption, contravention of the Identification Act and contravention of the Immigration Act.

The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team began probing the matter after receiving a complaint from the Department of Home Affairs in November 2022.

Hawks spokesperson in the Free State, Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti, said the investigation centres on allegations that, between January and March 2022, two Home Affairs administration clerks based in Bothaville assisted about 10 Pakistani nationals with passport applications using the credentials of South African citizens.

“The passports were allegedly issued with the photographs of the Pakistani applicants, despite the identity details allegedly belonging to South Africans,” said Matoti.

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She further stated that the Home Affairs officials had allegedly received R10 000 in gratification from the Pakistani nationals in exchange for facilitating the applications.

According to the Hawks, the investigation resulted in warrants of arrest being obtained and authorised by the Bothaville Magistrate’s Court.

“The arrests were subsequently carried out, with the three accused now facing prosecution over their alleged roles in the scheme.

READ: Home Affairs shifts gear higher in fight against fraudulent IDs

The Hawks have not disclosed whether the Pakistani nationals allegedly linked to the applications have been charged or whether further arrests are expected.

The three accused were released on free bail following their court appearance.

They are due back in court on January 20 next year when they will make their first appearance before the Regional Court.

Now it is worst. The Home Affairs officials are working with the police officers to solicit money from migrants. I have a valid passport and permit but police officers arrested me and kept me for 5 days behind bars. They thought i would succumb to their demand of money (R3500) They also registered me in criminal registry because i never gave them money. This is very sad and only my passport which they held finally gave me my freedom.

Please advise me as to what to do to break this cycle of great corruption and xenophobia practiced by home affairs and police officers (Saps) A criminal record obtained without having committed any crime is criminality by the revered offices in the land.

Corruption in Home Affairs, especially Gauteng. Per PRECCA s4(1), officials taking bribes are corrupt. Govt must act on their pensions as foreigners wrongly benefit from fake papers.

They should heavily charge those criminal Pakistanis and deport them.A black list won’t help as they would return.They should be barred .There are thousands of them all over South Africa it seems.indians and Pakistanis with their families

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