Home affairs top official gets R1000 bail in Pretoria court

Prosecutor Avinash Rampararat said Elisha Nkhabu Matsipa’s Johannesburg address had been verified and the investigating officer would be able to locate the senior home affairs staffer.

 

Matsipa was released on R1,000 bail.

 

The 44-year-old father of two was arrested last week after he allegedly assisted a Pakistani national Wahdat Hussain, 30, to

fraudulently obtain a South African passport, identity document and a marriage certificate.

 

Preliminary investigations have revealed that Matsipa received an amount of R23,000 from Hussain.

 

In his affidavit, read out by attorney Ash Irpal, Matsipa said he would plead not guilty to the charges when the trial begins.

 

“I earn a gross salary of R28,000 per month which I share with my family. Since my arrest, I do not know how they are surviving,” said Matsipa.

 

“If I continue to be incarcerated, I will suffer financial ruin and my family will be directly affected since I am the breadwinner. Furthermore, if I do not return to work soon, I will suffer and eventually lose my job, my family, my property and my reputation.”

 

Matsipa said he had assets to the tune of R3 million which included a house, a car and other movable property.

 

Rampararat said however the State had a formidable case against Matsipa.

 

As part of the bail conditions, Matsipa was ordered not to interfere with State witnesses.

 

He was also instructed not to go to his Pretoria central home affairs workplace before the matter resumes in August.

 

Matsipa appeared alongside Hussain but the bail applications were separate. Regarding Hussain, Rampararat told the court that there were ongoing cases of fraud against the Pakistani national. He said Hussein is also on bail for rape charges.

 

The court adjourned to sort out a technicality regarding the schedule in which Hussein must be charged with.

 

The case continues.

ANA