By Kabelo Abel Mokgalabone
POLOKWANE : Elvis Mabasa, Mary Mashale, Bonny Baloyi, Kulani Hiliza, Dipuo Raophala, William Maenetja, Levina Sekgobela, Nkele Rabutla and Mokgadi Pilusa are all appearing before the Polokwane Specialised Crimes Court today.
The nine suspects are former Tzaneen Home Affairs officials who are accused of fraud and corruption
The suspects were pounced on by the Hawks following a series of corrupt activities at Home Affairs Tzaneen last year.
The accused allegedly colluded with the runners to recruit South African citizens to apply for the passports.
It is further alleged that all the process of applying for a passport would be followed but when it comes to photoshoot, they would call the foreign nationals to the booth, as a result, the passports would contain the particulars of South African citizens but the photos would be of illegal foreign nationals.
The Home Affairs Counter Corruption and Security unit discovered these illegal activities in May 2022 and referred the matter to the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation.
During the investigations, it was revealed that the citizens whose particulars were used would be paid R1000-00.
Their case has been moved to the Polokwane Specialised Crimes Court having been moved from the Tzaneen Magistrate’s court, where they appeared twice after their arrest last year.
The nine suspects were granted R1000 and R2000 bail respectively on the 30th of November 2022.
