Kudakwashe Mpofu, a Zimbabwean national, has been sentenced to three years in prison in South Africa for using a fake permanent resident permit to secure a top job. Mpofu bought the fake permit for R3,000 and landed a position as chief financial officer (CFO) at the North West Development Corporation (NWDC), earning over R1.6 million annually.
The Mmabatho Regional Court handed down the sentence on November 12, 2025, with the possibility of correctional supervision. Mpofu also received a suspended three-year sentence, pending good behavior for five years. Investigations revealed he used the fake permit, along with other forged documents, including a Critical/Exceptional Skills Visa and work permit, to live and work in South Africa after his student visa expired.
Mpofu’s fraudulent activities allowed him to climb the ranks at NWDC, becoming an assets manager earning R900,000 yearly before being promoted to CFO. He also obtained a South African driver’s license and financed luxury vehicles, including a Land Rover Sport, BMW 3 Series, and Ford Ranger.
The case stemmed from a 2023 tip-off to Home Affairs, forming part of the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) broader investigation into visa and permit fraud. The SIU’s findings led to Mpofu’s arrest, prosecution, and conviction
