Hawks’ passport fraud probe: Two men granted bail in Germiston

Two men facing 17 charges in an ongoing investigation into alleged passport fraud and corruption have been granted bail of R5 000 each at the Germiston Magistrate’s Court.

The accused, aged 39 and 45, appeared before the court after the Hawks’ East Rand Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit arrested them.

The Hawks arrested them while executing J50 warrants as part of the ongoing Project Humulani takedown operation.

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Lieutenant Colonel Granville Meyer of the Hawks said the court granted each accused bail of R5 000 following their brief appearance.

“The case has been postponed to October 26, 2026, for further proceedings,” said Meyer.

Both accused face 17 charges relating to fraud, corruption and contraventions of the Immigration Act.

Meyer added that Project Humulani is an ongoing investigation into an alleged scheme involving the fraudulent acquisition of South African passports and the alleged involvement of Department of Home Affairs officials and other individuals. The Hawks have previously reported arrests, convictions, and asset seizures as part of the investigation.

In another report following developments in Project Humulani, Colonel Katlego Mogale said a 46-year-old woman is expected to face charges of fraud, racketeering and corruption in an investigation into an alleged fraudulent South African passport syndicate.

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“The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) has arrested another suspect in connection with an alleged fraudulent passport syndicate under a multi-disciplinary investigation known as Project Humulani.

“The 46-year-old woman was arrested in Gauteng on September 29 during a prosecution-led operation and was expected to appear before the Protea Glen Magistrate’s Court the following day,” said Mogale.

Mogale said the investigation began in December 2021 after information emerged that a foreign national was allegedly colluding with Department of Home Affairs officials to obtain fraudulent South African passports.

The Gauteng Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit, based in Germiston, worked with the department’s Anti-Corruption unit, the National Prosecuting Authority and its Asset Forfeiture Unit to investigate the allegations.

“Preliminary investigations allegedly revealed that Home Affairs officials and vulnerable South African citizens were recruited to assist foreign nationals in obtaining fraudulent passports,” said Mogale.

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The alleged scheme involved swapping photographs and using South African citizens’ personal details to make the documents appear legitimate.

The Hawks stated that Home Affairs officials allegedly received between R10 000 and R15 000 per application, while recruited South African citizens were paid R500. Foreign nationals were allegedly charged between R50 000 and R100 000 for the passports.

Project Humulani was formally registered on April 12, 2022, and incorporated cases registered in Krugersdorp, Kliptown, Fairlands and Tubatse, as well as an enquiry in Germiston.

The investigation previously led to the arrest, conviction, and sentencing of an alleged kingpin linked to cases in Krugersdorp and Fairlands. The Hawks say the individual was sentenced to 14 years’ direct imprisonment.

The latest suspect faces charges of fraud, racketeering, corruption and contravention of the Immigration Act.

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Investigators have also seized three Toyota Fortuner sport utility vehicles, while blocking and cancelling several hundred passports.

The investigation is part of ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to dismantle alleged organised criminal networks involved in fraudulently acquiring South African identity documents.

In a separate case, the SAPS Richards Bay Organised Crime Task Team seized seven firearms, an airgun, several magazines and 89 rounds of ammunition of various calibres during an operation in Germiston on October 6.

SAPS media liaison officer Colonel Amanda van Wyk said the task team, supported by members of the Public Order Policing Unit in Springs, acted on information regarding the whereabouts of a suspect wanted in connection with a 2024 murder case in Richards Bay.

“Upon arriving at the identified address, the team seized two rifles, three pistols, a revolver, a shotgun, an airgun, several magazines and 89 rounds of ammunition. The wanted murder suspect remains at large, and investigations are ongoing to trace and arrest the suspect,” said Van Wyk.

The seized firearms will undergo ballistic testing to establish whether they may have been used in the commission of other serious and violent crimes.