Johannesburg – The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) in Limpopo has warned South African civil servants involved in corruption and fraud, that it was only a matter of time before they were caught and brought before the courts.
Hawks provincial spokesperson, Captain Matimba Maluleke, said: “We are coming to get you. It doesn’t matter how long it takes – in the end you will be brought to justice.”
Maluleke was speaking to the African News Agency (ANA) on Friday following the arrest of two Home Affairs officials on Thursday for fraud, corruption and extortion.
The first suspect, aged 36, was an assistant manager at Giyani Home Affairs and was arrested after a long and intensive investigation which started in 2012.
He allegedly solicited bribes from asylum seekers from different countries during his tenure as the manager of the Refugee Centre at Home Affairs’ Beit Bridge’s point.
The second suspect, 42, who was an immigration officer, also from Beit Bridge, was arrested for allegedly stamping the passport of an illegal immigrant while he was detained in police custody for being in the country illegally.
“Unfortunately bribery and corruption by immigration officers is common. In June we arrested 16 officials for being involved in such issues,” Maluleke told ANA.
“We consider this a very serious issue to allow a person who is not allowed to be in the country to stay illegally.
“We are spending considerable resources and time to clear our border posts of these corrupt officials. And in the end we will get rid of all of them,” said Maluleke, adding that the apprehension of the two arrested suspects had involved intensive investigations and long hours of hard work.
The two suspects were due to appear before the Musina Magistrate’s Court on Friday afternoon.
African News Agency