On Thursday, Lt-Col Leonard Hlathi said that police arrested four people in Tonga the past Sunday.

The investigation also led them to an identity specialist in Gauteng who was arrested shortly thereafter.

He warned people that might have gained from the syndicate or other similar syndicates, that the police were coming for them.

According to information, one of the suspects from Tonga won business, collected data and took photos of clients where after he would travel to Gauteng to have them made by a specialist.

Fraudulent police identity documents, the newly introduced identity smart cards, birth certificates, drivers licences and senior certificates were amongst the confiscated goods.

Original face value documents point to the involvement of Department of Home Affairs officials. The investigation aims to reveal how the suspect came in possession of these documents and clamp down on corrupt officials.

The bankcard-sized cards in which sim cards are distributed, were used to make false drivers licences.

One of the suspects claimed to be a pastor. He used a building, seemingly a church, to run his illegal business from.

“It is worrying to the police that people who are supposed to be leaders in faith, will use it to cover up illegal activities,” said Lt-Col Hlathi.

It is believed that more than 60 fraudulent documents have been made and is currently in circulation. People allegedly paid around R2 000 per document.

Many of the clients are foreigners who obtained false residency to South Africa via the syndicate. The suspect himself was in possession of a Department of Home Affairs card and a police identification card.

Lt-Col Hlathi appealed to people in possession of these fraudulent cards to hand them in at the nearest police station. He warned that people who failed to do so, will be arrested.

“For now we will work with people but as soon as the investigation leads us that way, people in possession of these fraudulent documents will be arrested.”

The suspects appeared in the Tonga court yesterday and had the case against them withdrawn due to technicalities. Lt-Col Hlathi said that they do not fear that the suspects might flee before they can be subpoenaed to appear in court again.

“When we investigate a case, there is no fear. You can run, but you cannot hide. In the end, we will catch you.”