Ex-NW CFO Kudakwashe Mpofu in court for immigration fraud

Kudakwashe Mpofu has been charged with fraud for contravening South Africa's immigration laws after allegedly using a fraudulent permit to remain in the country since 2022.

The 32-year-old reportedly resigned from his position at the weekend before handing himself over to authorities on Wednesday morning.

“It is alleged that in 2022, Mpofu used a fraudulent permit to remain in the country. After investigations by the South African Police Service, Mpofu then handed himself over on 20 March 2024, where he was formally arrested.

“The matter was postponed to the 26 of March for bail information and possible bail application,” the National Prosecuting Authority's Lumka Mahanjan confirmed in a statement.

The state intends to oppose bail should he apply.

NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has described Mpofu’s appointment to a senior government official without proper vetting as a “national embarrassment”.

The minister was speaking at Sunday’s media briefing to give an update on developments in his department.

Mpofu had been fighting to stop the department from deporting him back to Zimbabwe.

He previously filed papers in the high court of Pretoria to force Motsoaledi and his director-general, Tommy Makhode, to declare his residence documents valid.

Last year, Mpofu obtained a court interim order that barred the pair from deporting him.

According to Motsoaledi, Mpofu is expected to appear in court on 9 May to argue against his deportation.

At the same time, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) confirmed on Wednesday that it is probing Mpofu's Permanent Residence Permit as part of Proclamation 154 of 2024 into the Department of Home Affairs. 

The Proclamation empowers the SIU to investigate serious maladministration in connection relating to the issuance of permanent residence permits, corporate visas, business visas, critical/exceptional skills work visas, study visas, retired persons’ visas, work visas, and citizenship by naturalisation, contrary to the Immigration Act, 2002; the South African Citizenship Act, 1995. 

 It covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that took place between October 2004 and  February 2024

"Our investigators have started with the investigation which is at an advanced stage. At this stage what we can say to the public is that we will take all the relevant measures, legally an otherwise, to make sure that we can get to the bottom of this issue."

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