Four Free State department of home affairs officials and a policeman appeared in the Ficksburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday on corruption charges, Free State police said.
The alleged offences mainly relate to allowing foreigners into South Africa illegally.
Police spokesperson Captain Sam Makhele said the five men who worked at the Ficksburg border post were arrested on Monday. They were granted bail of R1 000 each and will appear again on August 18.
This brings to 39 the number of people arrested since an investigation began into corruption at home affairs offices in the Free State.
”Several illegal passports, temporary residence stickers and other documentation were seized during the investigation,” Makhele said,
He said the latest arrests followed the arrest of five officials in Bethlehem on July 28 for corruption and perjury.
He said four officials were also arrested on July 22 for corruption.
The officials allegedly illegally issued documents entitling an individual to South Africa citizenship.
Nineteen people who were arrested at the regional department of home affairs in Bloemfontein in May on corruption charges appeared in the Ficksburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Their case was postponed to September 23. — Sapa