A Border Management Authority (BMA) official has been arrested for allegedly accepting a R600 bribe to unlawfully endorse the passport of a Lesotho national at the Maseru Port of Entry, as government intensifies its crackdown on corruption within South Africa’s immigration system.
The official was arrested on Wednesday following a joint investigation by the Department of Home Affairs’ Counter Corruption branch, the South African Police Service Crime Intelligence division and the Ladybrand Detectives.
According to the Department of Home Affairs, the official allegedly accepted the payment on 29 June to fraudulently endorse the traveller’s passport despite the individual not presenting herself at the immigration counter, as required by law.
The alleged corruption was uncovered after the Lesotho national was arrested by the South African Police Service in an unrelated matter.
The department said information that emerged during the investigation suggested that money had allegedly been paid through intermediaries to facilitate the unlawful endorsement of the passport, leading investigators to identify the BMA official allegedly responsible for the fraudulent immigration stamp.
The official has been charged with corruption and is expected to appear in the Ladybrand Magistrate’s Court on 13 July.
Authorities said investigations are continuing and warned that further arrests could follow.
Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber welcomed the arrest, describing it as part of government’s ongoing efforts to root out corruption across the Home Affairs ecosystem and strengthen the integrity of South Africa’s border management system.
“Every corrupt official who undermines the integrity of South Africa’s border management system must know that the net is closing,” Schreiber said.
“We are working relentlessly across the Home Affairs ecosystem with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who abuse the public’s trust are identified, arrested and prosecuted.”
He said the department remained committed to eliminating corruption from every part of the Home Affairs ecosystem.
“We will not stop until corruption has been rooted out from every part of the Home Affairs ecosystem. That is how we will restore the rule of law and build a secure immigration system that serves the interests of South Africa.”
