Port Elizabeth woman posts viral video accusing Home Affairs of offering R150 bribe

A Port Elizabeth woman has posted a viral video accusing officials at her local Department of Home Affairs branch of offering to speed up services in exchange for money. In the footage the woman identifies herself as Amanda Shaw and says she was offered a payment of R150 to skip the queue while she was at the branch to apply for her children’s passports.

What happened in the video

In the social media video Shaw is seen standing on a chair inside the Home Affairs branch and speaking to other customers. She tells viewers she was approached by officials who offered to help her more quickly in return for payment.

“I’m phoning the police!”

In a Facebook post linked to the video Shaw said she climbed onto a chair and “rebelled against their corruption!” She wrote that officials offered R150 so she could get an ID or passport pick-up card in 10 minutes, or have a new ID card done in 20 minutes. She said she declined the offer and watched as customers who arrived after her were helped.

“As I pulled up to Home Affairs in my BMW X4. I was approached with an offer to pay R150, and I will be helped in 10 minutes. I decline the offer….I watched closely as customers who arrived after me were helped.”

Reporting the incident and official response

Shaw said she tried to call authorities to report the incident but was unsuccessful. The Department of Home Affairs had not officially responded to the video at the time of the report.

The story notes that Minister Leon Schreiber has previously issued a warning to employees involved in illegal behaviour while discussing arrests of officials implicated in fraud and corruption. In that earlier statement he said the department was pursuing dismissals, arrests and prosecutions and warned corrupt employees they would be held to account.

“We are now securing dismissals, arrests and prosecutions on a near-weekly basis as Home Affairs ramps up our cleanup operation. Every crooked official and complicit member of the public must know that it is now only a matter of time until their turn arrives… We will not rest until we have rid Home Affairs of every single rotten apple through this combination of dismissals and criminal convictions.”

What the video shows

The footage that circulated online shows Shaw visibly upset as she addresses other customers and the camera, making clear she refused the offer and intended to report the matter. The accompanying Facebook post emphasises her decision to speak out against corruption while at the branch to apply for her children’s passports.

Key facts

• Location: Port Elizabeth Home Affairs branch
• Person: Amanda Shaw
• Allegation: Officials offered to speed up service for R150
• Action taken by Shaw: Stood on a chair in the branch, posted video and Facebook account of events, attempted to call authorities
• Department response: No official response to the video reported

This article is based solely on the video and social media post by Amanda Shaw and reporting from the cited outlet.