theNet
Mukoni T Ratshitanga
A Singapore-based agency which sells customers “camouflaged” bank accounts, driver’s licences and college degrees is also selling “Southern African passports and identity documents” on the Internet.
The agency, Expat World Special Services, offers in the June edition of its monthly newsletter “an official Southern African Government Immigration Program” which gives permanent residence to applicants.
It claims the “Southern African Government” is running the programme as a development fund which includes poverty-relief programmes.
“This programme is of limited duration and has been instituted due to the severe poverty prevalent within this Southern African Government at this time. Money received in return for citizenship are being used to fund poverty relief programs,” says the newsletter.
The wording raises suspicions that the undisclosed country could indeed be South Africa. It makes reference to the South African farmers’ agricultural deal with the Mozambican government.
“You may have read in the international press that the South African Agricultural Union has made deals with several African countries (with the support and sanction of the SA government) whereby experienced farmers would be given top quality free agricultural lands in various African countries,” it reads.
“So far, the countries we know are Zambia, Zaire, Gabon, Mozambique and Angola and there are more to come … the biggest market in Africa, SA is waiting.”
It concludes: “Reading between the lines on this, the smart [person] can see how he gets on the action.”
Expat World seems to have borrowed some of the political rhetoric that gained currency in the run-up to the 1994 elections.
The cost of the passport and identity documentation is a staggering $4 500. Applicants are also promised tax holidays and property rights in the country.
Only the South African government can issue passports, and only to South African citizens. The Department of Home Affairs refused to comment on the claims in the newsletter.