Twelve Department of Home Affairs officials and seven ”runners” were arrested this week for allegedly selling identity and birth registration documentation, Free State police said on Thursday.
The arrests, mostly in Bloemfontein, come after a two-year investigation by the police and the department, which found that large amounts of money were paid to home affairs officials to obtain illegal birth certificates, through which applications for identity documents and South African passports could be obtained.
Provincial Commissioner Moranodi J Gaobepe said up to R1 000 was paid for the IDs, and the birth certificates’ prices ranged from R200 to R500.
Seven alleged runners acting as the link between buyers and officials were arrested earlier this week and on Thursday the 12 officials were arrested.
Eight were arrested at the department’s Maitland Street office, one was arrested at his house, another two at a mobile unit in Petrusberg and one woman was arrested at the Pretoria office of the department.
Gaobepe said that the illegal issuing of these documents have a major impact on the country’s economy as they entitle an individual to apply for all grants the government offers to South African citizens. It also hampers the investigation of crime.
”Corruption can never be tolerated and we need whistle-blowing from the public to be able to investigate allegations,” Gaobepe said.
The 19 people will appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on May 31 to be charged with corruption, fraud and charges relating to the Birth and Death Registration Act. — Sapa