Two men accused of illegally marrying South African women to strangers and foreign nationals seeking citizenship have been granted bail at the Durban Magistrate’s Court.

Pakistani national Khalid Haroon (58) and Sirajbhali Isiyalibhai Patel (56) from India appeared before Magistrate Mathibane yesterday and were granted bail of R20 000 each. The accused were arrested during a joint operation between Crime Intelligence, the Metro Police Tactical Support Unit, the Sydenham Trio Task Team, and Home Affairs immigration officers, which uncovered a clandestine Home Affairs office used to facilitate illegal marriages and spousal visas at a block of flats on Matthews Meyiwa Road in Greyville, last Monday.

The state initially opposed bail while verifying the immigration status of the accused. KZN NPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara says Haroon and Patel face charges of contravening various sections of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002.

“The charges pertain to the two men allegedly unlawfully producing documentation purporting to be documents issued by the National Department of Home Affairs, and allegedly operating an office providing the services of an immigration practitioner when they were not authorised to do so,” adds Ramkisson-Kara.

She explains their bail conditions include reporting to the Durban Central Police Station once a week and surrendering their passports to the investigating officer. “The case was postponed to February 15, 2025, for further investigations,” adds Ramkisson-Kara.

KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda says more arrests could be made in connection with the case. He states: “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 could 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.”