By Agreement Mabunda
GIYANI- Former official of the Department of Home Affairs Mr Mdunwazi Amos Ngwenyama (47) was convinced and sentenced to 14 years of direct imprisonment for corruption by the Giyani Specialized Commercial Crimes Court on 19 April 2024.
In December 2021, the accused registered and issued a fraudulent birth certificate for an individual who did not exist in the system of the Department of Home Affairs at the time.
He handed said document to Mr Peter Baloyi (38), who was acting as an intermediary and, in exchange, received One Thousand Rand (R1000-00) cash.
The investigation revealed that the certificate was to be handed to a Zimbabwean National.
The information was reported to the Thohoyandou unit of the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation section. The information was operationalized, and both accused were arrested on 8 December 2021.
Mr Baloyi was apprehended in the Malamulele area while Mr Ngwenyama was arrested while on duty at the Department of Home Affairs office in Malamulele.
The duo appeared before the Malamulele District Court and were released on bail of One Thousand Rand (R1000) each.
Through the meritorious investigations of the Hawks, both accused were convicted and sentenced.
Accused number one, Mr Amos Ngwenyama was convicted and sentenced on a count of Corruption to eight (8) years direct imprisonment and a further six (6) years direct imprisonment on count 2 being a charge of Fraud. Both sentences are to run concurrently. The accused was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Accused number 2 Mr Peter Baloyi pleaded guilty on 18 September 2023 at Giyani Specialized Commercial Crimes Court and was sentenced to five (05) years imprisonment and or six thousand rand (R6000.00) fine and a further two (02) years imprisonment which is suspended for five (05) years on condition that he does not commit a similar related offence.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Limpopo Province Major General welcomed the sentence and applauded the wonderful job done.
