Corruption: Home Affairs officials arrested for foreign nationals’ money

Three Home Affairs officials have been arrested and ended up in a South African Police Service (SAPS) van after allegedly demanding money from foreign nationals in Mpumalanga’s Ermelo.

HOME AFFAIRS OFFICIALS ARRESTED FOR DEMANDING CASH FROM FOREIGN SHOP OWNERS

The trio included the department’s two immigration officers and an assistant director. According to the report, the apprehended officials told the foreign nationals they were unlawfully inside Mzansi and should therefore pay cash.

“The trio allegedly demanded money from foreign nationals owning shops around Ermelo town as from January, claiming that they (foreign nationals) are illegal in the country,” SAPS Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said.

“The complainant then reported the matter to the local police station and an investigation was launched by the anti-corruption unit,” said Mpumalanga SAPS provincial spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WARNED

With any arrests, high-profile or not, any possible persons who could be plotting similar offences get warned indirectly or directly. The province’s policing chief said Mpumalanga is committed to distinguishing itself as an area with no tolerance for corruption.

“The Provincial Commissioner of Mpumalanga Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has been adamant that the Police will do everything in their power to root out corruption in the province,” SAPS added.

“No one is above the law. Anyone found to be in breach of the law will be arrested irrespective of the position he or she holds. Mpumalanga must be a crime-free province.”

Meanwhile, Home Affairs is looking at changing the ID format around gender to better reflect non-binary, intersex, and transgender people in South Africa.

As it stands, the digits following your date of birth are used for gender. Digits between 0000-4999 are for females whilst digits 5000-9999 are used for males.

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