MEMBERS OF ALLEGED PASSPORT SYNDICATE APPEAR IN COURT
Seven people appeared in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court today for their alleged connection or participation in a false passport syndicate. Their names are: Mmeli Philani Trevor Zaca (Dlamini), Thandiwe Pretty Khwela, Zime Anita Shange, Fumani Hlayisi, Bongiwe Kubheka, Lindokuhle Bongumusa Mpanza and Lungisani Siyanda Mzobe.
They face charges of fraud, Contraventions of the Identification Act, 68 of 1997, diverse Contraventions of the Immigration Act, 13 of 2002 (as amended), and Corruption (accepting gratification).
The state is alleging that some officials or employees of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) acted in concert with members of the syndicate to process fraudulent passport applications at various offices of the DHA in KwaZulu-Natal.
These applications were allegedly processed after hours, during the night, on weekends and on public holidays when the DHA offices were closed.
The fraudulent passport applications were processed for undeserving foreign nationals using the particulars of South African citizens who are lawful holders of South African identity documents but do not have passports.
The case was remanded to 20 June 2025 for Legal Aid and bail application. This matter emanates from investigations conducted by the DHA’s Directorate for Counter Corruption and Security Services in KwaZulu-Natal, together with members of the DPCI attached to the Serious Corruption Investigation Component, guided by Prosecutors from the NPA.
