A 56-year-old Border Management Authority (BMA) official has been arrested at the Maseru Port of Entry after allegedly being found in possession of 22 stamped passports belonging to Lesotho nationals, without the lawful holders being present, as well as R2,100 in cash.
According to the BMA, the arrest followed an intelligence-driven operation conducted in conjunction with other law enforcement authorities.
“The operation was initiated after information was received from the State Security Agency regarding several Lesotho nationals’ passports that had been placed under monitoring.
“Intelligence indicated that the passports had allegedly been transported from Limpopo to Ladybrand for the purpose of unlawfully being stamped and extending their visa validity and stay in the Republic of South Africa without the passport holders being physically present, as required by law.
“Acting on this information, law enforcement authorities conducted an operation that resulted in the arrest of the BMA official,” said BMA spokesperson Mmemme Mogotsi.
Mogotsi added that the suspect was arrested at the scene and is expected to appear before the Ladybrand Magistrates’ Court on charges relating to corruption, possession of passports without lawful authority, and immigration-related offences.
“The investigation remains ongoing, and additional arrests have not been ruled out,” Mogotsi said.
The BMA highlighted that the arrest comes just over 10 days after the fifth instalment of the Anti-Corruption Awareness Campaign, hosted under the Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum at OR Tambo International Airport.
Since the establishment of the BMA three years ago, several officials have been arrested, with some dismissed or subjected to internal disciplinary proceedings.
BMA Commissioner Dr Mike Masiapato has vowed to root out corruption within the law enforcement agency.
“South Africa is beginning to see the tangible benefits of the BMA leadership’s firm and uncompromising stance against corruption.
“The BMA is currently finalising more than 60 labour relations and disciplinary cases involving internal control breaches, fraud, corruption and other misconduct affecting organisational integrity.
“In the last three months, 17 officials were dismissed from the BMA, and more are expected,” Masiapato revealed.
