Three individuals have been arrested in connection with a passport fraud scheme in Mpumalanga, following an operation led by the Hawks’ Secunda-based Serious Corruption Investigation unit. Mike Alex Abete (38) and Abdo Mustefu Musa (44), both Ethiopian nationals, and Lindiwe Kubheka (45), a South African, were apprehended on 16 September 2024 for fraud and theft.

The arrests followed information from Crime Intelligence about foreign nationals allegedly colluding with a fake Home Affairs official to stamp expired passports. In an undercover operation, Abete was paid R20,000 to stamp expired passports, but failed to deliver on the agreement, prompting further investigation.

A search and seizure operation conducted by authorities uncovered a significant amount of documents from the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Transport, which were confiscated for further analysis. During questioning, Abete revealed that the money and passports had been handed over to Musa, who in turn passed them to Kubheka.

Upon searching Kubheka’s residence, three passports and additional evidence were seized. The three accused appeared in the Eerstehoek Magistrates’ Court in Elukwatini on 17 September 2024, where they were each granted bail of R3,000. The case has been postponed to 5 November 2024 for further investigation.

Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Gerber, praised the team for their swift action, stating, “We will continue to investigate and arrest perpetrators of crime. The public is urged not to pay money to criminals for any government services.”