31 corrupt officials suspended
2009-12-10 07:48
Johannesburg - Thirty-one Home Affairs officials were suspended for alleged involvement in the fraudulent registration of births of foreign nationals, Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said on Thursday.
"The fraudulent registration of births of foreigners constitutes a serious threat to the national security of our country, undermines the stability of our democracy and cost the state millions of rands meant for reconstruction and development," she said.
Most of the fraudulent birth registrations were for Pakistani nationals.
"These fraudulent registrations of births of foreigners lead to the false registration of foreigners on the South African Population Register, thus leading to the issuance of fraudulent IDs, duplication of existing IDs and fraudulent passports," said Dlamini-Zuma.
Accessing social grants
By issuing fraudulent documents, the officials were denying the needy and the poor basic services because they were allowing the fraudsters to access social grants meant for South Africans, and costing the state millions of rands, she said.
"On the other hand, fraudulent IDs give access to fraudsters to apply for South African passports which are then used for nefarious activities abroad," she said.
The 31 officials were suspended in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape and Limpopo.
Their suspension follows another one in November where 28 officials were suspended for the alleged fraudulent registrations of marriages and deaths.
The fraudulent death certificates were used for fraudulent insurance claims while fraudulent marriages were registered so foreign nationals could acquire citizenship.
Investigations
"In this regard, the Department of Home Affairs has launched a series of investigations into these fraudulent activities with a view to ensuring those implicated in such activities face the full might of the law.
"Accordingly, we will not rest, but will use all the power at our disposal until we have removed this scourge from our department," Dlamini-Zuma said.
More suspensions were expected "as investigations gather momentum".
The suspended officials were to face disciplinary hearings soon, she said.
- SAPA