Hawks swoop on top border post officials

Date: 06 June 2016 By: Kaizer Nengovhela

The head of immigration at Beit Bridge border post, Elvis Mavhungu (54), as well as 14 other suspects appeared in the Musina Magistrate's Court on charges of corruption and defeating the ends of justice last Friday.

The suspects, which included a SARS custom official, a Home Affairs inspector, an advocate, a teacher, a local businessman, a councillor, two immigration officers and four clearing agents, were arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation under leadership of Hawks head Berning Ntlemeza last Thursday at Musina.

Mavhungu, former senior prosecutor and priest Adv Edward Pesula, and nine other suspects were released on R3 000 bail each. Musina Secondary School teacher Mr Theodore Maoka, former Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) councillor in the Musina Municipality Mr Eugine Khosa, immigration officer Mr Edward Tshivhase and a suspected illegal immigrant, Mr Philip Molea, were denied bail. Some of those who were denied bail have pending cases against them while others are still being profiled.

According to a statement released by the Hawks’ spokesperson, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, “The Deputy Director demanded and received two pairs of shoes worth R3 000 each, so that he could stamp a brand new passport of a foreign national without any supporting documentation. The police officer, on the other hand, issued a false affidavit to a foreign national in the absence of the recipient for a fee of R1,200.”

The advocate reportedly demanded and received R23 000 for issuing business visas to foreign nationals, while clearing agents were arrested for demanding and receiving between R5 000 and R9 000 for issuing fraudulent SARS Goods Export Permits without goods' being presented.

“The teacher at Musina Secondary School is in the dock for demanding and receiving R2 000 per passport, so that he could attach temporary resident permits, and applying entry and departure stamps on 21 passports without any documentation supporting the foreign nationals’ stay in the country,” Mulaudzi stated.

A former councillor, Eugene Khoza, who owns a Clearing Agency at Beit Bridge and has a pending corruption charge against him, is accused of accepting R7 200 for issuing false immigration stamps to foreign nationals.

Molea is suspected of being an illegal immigrant who uses false names. He was denied bail, pending the verification of his citizenship.

As part of their bail conditions, all suspects were barred from attending their work places at the border post. They will appear in court again between June 27 and July 4 for trial.

Their arrest by the Hawks came after six months of investigations into illegal activities at the border post. It has been alleged that officials at the border post are assisting criminal gangs and taking bribes.

Viewed: 5032

Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

More photos... 

Former PAC councillor Eugine Khosa was denied bail.