News / Regional
2 Beitbridge Border Post immigration officials fired
20 Jan 2015 at 05:33hrs | Views
THE Department of Immigration has fired two officers at Beitbridge Border Post for using fake South African departure date stamps to clear travellers who would have overstayed.
Annah Mutashu (32) and Kennedy Matunga (45), both accounting assistants in the department, were said to have been in the habit of charging R300 to affix the fake stamp on a single passport.
At the time, South Africa was fining over-stayers R1 000. The immigration pair was arrested on Monday last week following a trap set by police detectives.
They were relieved of their duties last Thursday after they were found guilty of improper performance during a disciplinary hearing.
Assistant Regional Immigration Officer in charge of Compliance and Enforcement Mr Francis Mabika confirmed the pair's dismissal yesterday.
"I can confirm that the two officers have been discharged from service following an internal hearing for improper performance," he said.
"We are trying to weed out all unruly elements from the department.
"Actually, we don't have corruption in the immigration dictionary. As a department, we don't just talk, but we act on cases as they come."
Mr Mabika said travellers should report any corrupt activities to the enforcement and compliance office.
The pair was last year dragged to the Beitbridge Magistrates Court charged with criminal abuse of office, but was later acquitted because of lack of evidence.
Their crime came to light after immigration authorities in South Africa intercepted Chamunorwa Ngwenya, who worked for Revival Bus Company and was travelling on a Zimbabwean passport with a fake immigration departure date stamp.
Ngwenya, who was handed over to Zimbabwean police for interrogation, implicated Mutashu and Matunga.
Annah Mutashu (32) and Kennedy Matunga (45), both accounting assistants in the department, were said to have been in the habit of charging R300 to affix the fake stamp on a single passport.
At the time, South Africa was fining over-stayers R1 000. The immigration pair was arrested on Monday last week following a trap set by police detectives.
They were relieved of their duties last Thursday after they were found guilty of improper performance during a disciplinary hearing.
Assistant Regional Immigration Officer in charge of Compliance and Enforcement Mr Francis Mabika confirmed the pair's dismissal yesterday.
"I can confirm that the two officers have been discharged from service following an internal hearing for improper performance," he said.
"We are trying to weed out all unruly elements from the department.
"Actually, we don't have corruption in the immigration dictionary. As a department, we don't just talk, but we act on cases as they come."
Mr Mabika said travellers should report any corrupt activities to the enforcement and compliance office.
The pair was last year dragged to the Beitbridge Magistrates Court charged with criminal abuse of office, but was later acquitted because of lack of evidence.
Their crime came to light after immigration authorities in South Africa intercepted Chamunorwa Ngwenya, who worked for Revival Bus Company and was travelling on a Zimbabwean passport with a fake immigration departure date stamp.
Ngwenya, who was handed over to Zimbabwean police for interrogation, implicated Mutashu and Matunga.
Source - the herald
