A 56-year-old immigration officer from Beitbridge Port of Entry in Musina, Limpopo, has been arrested for allegedly accepting bribes from foreign nationals attempting to enter South Africa illegally.
Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, a spokesperson for Limpopo police, confirmed that six illegal immigrants were also detained during the operation. The officer was caught during a sting operation by Operation Vala Umgodi on the morning of September 29.
During the investigation, authorities discovered R3,100 in cash and six passports belonging to foreign nationals in the officer’s possession. The passport holders were found on buses arriving from Malawi and were waiting for processing.
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The detained foreigners, aged between 27 and 43, could not provide satisfactory explanations for their passports or the money found with the officer.
The Limpopo Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit was alerted, and the cash and passports were confiscated as evidence. Both the immigration officer and the six foreigners are set to appear in Musina Magistrate’s Court on September 30.
Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Samuel Manala praised the police for their efforts in making the arrests.
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