KwaZulu-Natal - The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) on Wednesday said its Durban commercial crime unit together with the Home Affairs counter-corruption team arrested seven suspects for fraud, contravention of the Immigration Act and Identification Act.
Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo from the Hawks said the Home Affairs counter corruption team discovered irregularities in the issuing of late birth certificates at their offices from Mzimkhulu, Bulwer and Ulundi.
"Members embarked on an operation as from 18 August 2017 to 1 September 2017. During the operation the seven suspects including three Home Affairs officials were arrested," sais Mhlongo.
The arrested suspects, Snothile Buthelezi (26), Sibulelo Malanda (49), Buyelaphi Stubchen (57) Nkosinathi Madlala (31), Nokuphiwa Fihlane (26), Nowinile Sikhosana (34) and Lindiswa Mkhafula (28) have all appeared in the Durban Special Commercial Crime Court.
They were granted R2,000 bail each and their case was postponed to 3 November 2017, except for Buyelaphi. The 57-year-old appeared in court separately on Monday. Her case was postponed to 5 October 2017.