Limpopo Home Affairs official among two nabbed for birth certificate fraud
Two suspects are expected to appear in the Malamulele Magistrate's Court in Limpopo on Monday on charges of fraud and corruption linked to the unlawful processing of a late birth registration certificate.
The suspects were arrested by the Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation Unit in connection with an incident allegedly involving the Malamulele Home Affairs office in July 2019.
"It is alleged that a Home Affairs official attached to the Births and Deaths Registration Section unlawfully facilitated the issuance of late registration of birth certificates for two children without complying with the prescribed legal procedures,” said Limpopo police spokesperson Avele Fumba.
“It is further alleged that the process was influenced by the receipt of an unlawful gratification, the amount of which is yet to be determined.”
Police believe one of the suspects allegedly sought help from a cousin to obtain birth certificates for his biological children after the death of their foreign national mother to allow for the children to be enrolled at school.
The cousin allegedly provided a copy of her identity document, which was then used to process the certificates on the same day without following the prescribed legal requirements.
The alleged fraud was uncovered when a school official noticed that the birth certificates listed the cousin as the children's mother, despite knowing she was not their biological parent.
Police are continuing efforts to locate the third suspect.
ALSO READ
