Nhlanhla Mathebula (40), was convicted and sentenced by the White River Magistrate Court on Wednesday, 11 October 2023, for corruption. The sentence followed after information was received and investigation conducted by the Hawks Middelburg based Serious Corruption Investigation. A Home Affairs official was involved in fraud and corruption by processing fraudulent passports for foreign nationals using South African citizens’ identity documents. By so doing, he was receiving gratification from a foreign national who was receiving a fraudulent passport, processed by Mathebula.
During the investigation, it was established that a Department of Home Affairs official allegedly colluded with South African citizens to assist foreign nationals from Pakistan and Bangladesh to obtain South African passports using their identity documents.
The four accused:
Faud Mohammed Ali (37), Christopher Marillier (39), Gabriel Samuel van der Merwe (33), and Sifiso Kheswa (31) were linked and arrested. Investigation was finalised, and the accused were sentenced by the White River Magistrates’ court for fraud and corruption.
The accused were each sentenced to R100 000 fine or three years imprisonment on charges relating to contravention of Immigration Act. They further received R40 000 fine or 12 months imprisonment each. Nhlanhla Mathebula was linked and arrested. He was denied bail and remained in custody until his sentencing.
Mathebula was sentenced, as follows:
Count 1 to count 12 corruption, he was sentenced to 10 years direct imprisonment. Count 13 to count 24. Contravention of Section 49 of Immigration Act: He was sentenced to 3 years direct imprisonment in terms of Section 280(2) of Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) 51 of 1977. Sentence imposed on count 13 to 24 to run concurrently with count 1 to 12.
Confiscation order was also granted against the accused in terms of Section 18 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA). He has to pay an amount of R94 600.00, which he benefited as gratification for processing the fraudulent passports.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks Major General Gerber welcomed the sentence, and applauded the investigating team and prosecution authority for ensuring that justice prevails.
Content retrieved from: https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=48912.
