Undocumented migrant nabbed for posing as Tshwane employee
An undocumented migrant is facing several criminal charges for posing as a Rietvlei Water Treatment Plant employee in Tshwane.
The man was arrested after the city’s Forensic Division investigated a case of identity fraud involving a staff member known as “Prince”.
City spokesperson Selby Bokaba said Prince was employed by the city in 2012 under the stolen identity of Mohlaume Geoffrey Mamabolo.
Bokaba said the Home Affairs Department confirmed that the real Mamabolo’s identity document was issued in 2013, but was blocked after Prince allegedly attempted to apply for a smart ID card.
“His fingerprints did not match the records in the Home Affairs database, raising suspicions that he might be a foreign national,” said Bokaba.
“In the early hours of Friday, Forensic Services, supported by TMPD members, confronted 'Prince’ at the water treatment plant. He failed to provide a valid explanation for the ID discrepancy, could not give details of his upbringing or schooling, and ultimately, admitted that he was not Mr Mamabolo.”l
“He further disclosed that the fraudulent ID document was given to him years ago by an individual in Polokwane.”
Prince was arrested and charged with identity theft and contravention of the Immigration Act.
“This operation forms part of a broader fraud detection review of the city’s payroll system aimed at rooting out 'ghost employees' and verifying the validity of all employee identity numbers,” said Bokaba.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
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