Three suspects have been arrested in connection with an alleged scheme that exploited fake marriage documents to help foreign nationals gain South African citizenship, according to police reports.
During a raid on a Durban building Monday, police seized ID copies, marriage application forms, and other evidence, some of which one suspect reportedly tried to destroy. Authorities allege that stolen IDs, primarily from South African women, were used to create fraudulent marriage certificates and visas.
Regional police spokesperson Col. Robert Netshiunda explained to News24 that many of the foreign nationals entered the country as the “spouse” of a South African woman. Once they secured citizenship, they would then “divorce that woman” and bring additional individuals into the country, leveraging their citizenship in an alleged scheme that may have impacted numerous unsuspecting victims.
Police are currently analyzing seized computers and hard drives for further evidence. The operation, described as a “clandestine home affairs office,” was housed in an unassuming suburban building, processing marriages, visas, and other services usually handled by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs. Officials suspect potential involvement from within the Home Affairs department, though no internal arrests have been made yet.
South Africa, the continent’s largest economy, has been a magnet for jobseekers and migrants. However, recent anti-immigration protests and xenophobic violence have highlighted growing tensions, further intensified during the recent general elections.