A former Home Affairs employee has been convicted on 264 charges linked to the alleged fraudulent acquisition of South African passports by foreign nationals.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said Tholithemba Malusi Mlondo, 34, was found guilty in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Thursday.
Mlondo was convicted on 66 counts of fraud, 66 counts of corruption, 66 counts of contravening the Immigration Act and 66 counts of contravening the Identification Act.
The charges stem from unlawful activities that allegedly took place between February 2022 and July 2023 at the Department of Home Affairs office in Pietermaritzburg.
According to the Hawks, a group of South African citizens allegedly helped foreign nationals obtain South African passports fraudulently.
The alleged activities were carried out outside normal operating hours, including at night, over weekends and on public holidays when the Home Affairs offices were officially closed.
The activities prompted an investigation by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team.
Mlondo has been in custody since his arrest.
The matter was postponed to 13 November 2026 for the preparation of a pre-sentencing report.
Mlondo was remanded in custody.
