Hawks arrest foreign national in alleged Home Affairs passport racket

The Hawks have arrested a 46-year-old foreign national accused of working with Department of Home Affairs (DHA) officials to obtain fraudulent South African passports, the police service said.

Operation and investigation

The arrest was made during a multidisciplinary, prosecution-led takedown operation on Tuesday, the Hawks’ national spokesperson, Colonel Katlego Mogale, said. The preliminary investigation began in December 2021 after the Gauteng Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit in Germiston received information of alleged collusion.

How the scheme allegedly worked

According to the Hawks, Home Affairs officials and vulnerable South African citizens were recruited and paired with foreign nationals. Mogale said,

“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.”

Payments and fees

The investigation alleges that DHA officials were paid between R10,000 and R15,000 per application, while South African citizens received R500. Foreign nationals were reportedly charged between R50,000 and R100,000 for the fraudulent documents.

Project Humulani and prior outcomes

The team registered the enquiry as Project Humulani on April 12, 2022. The probe covered cases in Krugersdorp, Kliptown, Fairlands and Tubatse, and an enquiry in Germiston.

Mogale said the investigation produced convictions in two cases linked to Krugersdorp and Fairlands, where the alleged kingpin was traced, arrested, convicted and sentenced to 14 years’ direct imprisonment. During the project three Toyota Fortuner SUVs were seized and several hundred passports were blocked and cancelled.

Charges and court appearance

The latest suspect is expected to appear in the Protea Glen Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. Mogale said the suspect will face charges of fraud, racketeering, corruption and contravention of the Immigration Act.