Three people were arrested at the Home Affairs office in Springs for allegedly trying to pay women to enter fraudulent marriages, the department said on Thursday.

The three, from Egypt, were arrested with six local women on Wednesday.

Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma called on people to let the authorities know of such practices in their areas.

"We welcome the arrest and hope that law enforcement agencies will continue to crack down on such despicable acts," she said in a statement.

"Not only are these women degrading themselves but they also put the security of the country at risk."

Investigations are underway to determine whether home affairs officials were complicit in the matter.
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