The Citizen reports that the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has suspended four more officials liked to passport fraud operations involving Pakistani nationals.

This was confirmed by DHA Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, who told MPs on Wednesday that the four officials were linked to the Pakistani kingpin in respect of passport fraud, who was arrested in Krugersdorp in March. A multi-disciplinary operation in March led to the arrest of 29 suspects for alleged fraud, corruption, contravention of the Immigration Act and possession of suspected fraudulent documents. The suspects were arrested at the DHA office in Krugersdorp, following intelligence received regarding the fraudulent passport allegations countrywide. According to Motsoaledi, the arrested kingpin and his syndicate had been operating in six provinces, excluding the Northern Cape, Free State and North West. He indicated: “In the coming weeks we will continue to arrest more people, both foreign nationals and South Africans involved in passports fraud and other forms of identity theft as well as corruption. Members of the public give us credible information about corruption taking place at Home Affairs. We value this partnership and we follow up on each lead.” Motsoaledi further called on South Africans to stop selling their identities to foreign nationals.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by The Citizen

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