Protea Glen:A 46-year-old woman is set to appear in the Protea Glen Magistrates Court today following her arrest in Gauteng during a coordinated operation led by prosecutors.
According to South African Government News Agency, the woman is facing charges of fraud, racketeering, corruption, and violations of the Immigration Act. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), known as the Hawks, revealed that a complaint was received in December 2021 regarding a foreign national colluding with Home Affairs officials to secure fraudulent South African passports.
The investigation, led by the Gauteng DPCI Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit in Germiston, involved collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs Anti-Corruption unit and the National Prosecuting Authority. It was discovered that Home Affairs officials and vulnerable South African citizens were recruited to assist foreign nationals in obtaining these fraudulent documents through a process termed photo-swopping.
The investigation found that DHA officials received payments between R10,000 and R15,000 per application, South African citizens were paid R500, and foreign nationals were charged between R50,000 and R100,000. This led to the establishment of 'Project Humulani' on April 12, 2022, which encompassed various cases and an enquiry in Germiston.
The project was successful in tracing and arresting the alleged kingpin, who was convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison for cases in Krugersdorp and Fairlands. Additionally, three Toyota Fortuner SUVs were confiscated, and several hundred passports were blocked and cancelled during the operation.