Officials arrested in Gauteng deportation scandal
Two law enforcement officers were arrested for allegedly kidnapping a foreign national and forcing her deportation in Gauteng.
A Gauteng Traffic officer was arrested in Johannesburg, and an immigration officer was taken into custody in Tshwane during a takedown operation led by the police’s Organised Crime Investigation Unit, in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs, on June 3.
According to provincial police, the incident took place on February 27.
It is alleged that the suspects visited a woman’s home, demanded her immigration documents, and claimed they needed to take her to the Department of Home Affairs for verification.
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Instead, the woman was taken to Pretoria Central Police Station and held overnight for allegedly contravening the Immigration Act.
The following day, the suspects allegedly took her to the airport, bought her a plane ticket, and ordered her to leave the country.
While at the airport, the victim reported the matter to the immigration officers on-site.
A case was opened at the local police station and later handed over to the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit.
Following a thorough investigation, warrants of arrest were issued.
The suspects now face charges of kidnapping, malicious damage to property, and theft.
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The operation was led by Gauteng deputy provincial commissioner for crime detection, Major General Mbuso Khumalo, who urged anyone with similar experiences to come forward.
“We suspect there may be other foreign nationals who were targeted in this way. We ask victims to report to their nearest police station or contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111,” said Khumalo.
