Police say they have arrested a home affairs official and four ”middle-men” at the home affairs offices in Market Street, Johannesburg, for allegedly selling fake documents.
South African Broadcasting Corporation news reported on Tuesday that the documents included IDs, birth certificates and passports.
The arrests follow an exposé by Special Assignment, an SABC 3 current affairs programme.
The Special Assignment team found out just how easy it is to buy a fake ID when they visited the department.
Within an hour, they were issued a temporary ID, which was handed to them by a photographer at the door.
Although the document looked legitimate, there were no records of it at home affairs.
The department, dogged by allegations of fraud and corruption, admits it has a long way to go.
Barry Gilder, the director general at the department, said: ”It was clear to me when I was appointed as DG last year. The department has massive challenges. We provide a service to South Africans and visitors that is attractive to criminals and crooks
too.”
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the minister of home affairs, says the department has taken immediate steps to discipline the officials involved.
She said there was an ongoing programme to rid home affairs of corruption.
The five men arrested will appear in court soon. – Sapa