Home affairs official and taxi operators appear in court for corruption
"She allegedly demanded an amount of R250 000 from the complainant claiming that she will rectify the alleged fraudulent document for the smooth and quicker citizenship application process."
A home affairs call centre agent and two taxi operators appeared at the Pretoria magistrate’s court on Monday, following their arrest by the Hawks’ serious corruption investigation unit for corruption and extortion.
The call centre agent, 37-year-old Boitumelo Anna Kope from the home affairs department in Pretoria, was arrested in possession of R15 000 entrapment cash.
Kope was arrested along with taxi operators, Wilson Modike Mohale (25) and Sibusiso Jones Tshabalala (32) at Bloed mall, according to Hawks spokesperson Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu.
“According to reports, Kope demanded R250 000 from the complainant claiming she (Kope) would rectify a ‘fraudulent document’ for a smooth and quicker citizenship application process.”
Mulamu said, while the charges against Mohale and Tshabalala were provisionally withdrawn pending further investigations, Kope was remanded in custody until next Monday where she will apply for a formal bail application.
Provincial head in Gauteng, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa applauded the investigation team for their immediate response.
Kadwa urged the public to report such crimes to authorities for further investigation.
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