THREE suspects accused of illegally marrying South African (SA) women to foreign nationals seeking citizenship are expected to line up in the dock at the Durban Magistrate’s Court tomorrow morning on Wednesday, October 30, facing charges of fraud and defeating the ends of justice.

The suspects, two men and one woman, were arrested during a joint operation between Crime Intelligence, Metro Police Tactical Support Unit, Sydenham Trio Task Team and Home Affairs Immigration Officers, which uncovered the clandestine Home Affairs office used to facilitate illegal marriages and spousal visas at a block of flats on Matthews Meyiwa Road in Greyville, Durban, on Monday, October 30.

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KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the suspects would get hold of the identity documents of SA women and marry them to strangers, especially undocumented foreign nationals, so that the fake husbands would attain SA citizenship.

“Preliminary investigations have thus far identified a Home Affairs official who has been working in cahoots with the suspects. More arrests cannot be ruled out as investigations unfold. Several application forms, copies of identity documents and electronic devices were seized. Of the three suspects, two men will be charged with fraud and the woman will face a charge of defeating the ends of justice after she attempted to conceal evidence by tearing some of the documents and throwing them inside a bin,” said Netshiunda. He confirmed that the suspects are expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, October 30.

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