Zimbabweans fall prey to permit fraud in SA

JOHANNESBURG- With the last batch of permits supposed to be issued out on the 31st of May, Zimbabweans have fallen prey to conmen here as they battle to beat the supposed deadline date.

Scores of Zimbabweans who spoke to Bulawayo24 news had their passports pasted with 'fake' permits by unknown assailants who operate within the premises of Harrison Street, Department of Home Affairs.

"I am very angry with the way these people take advantage of us. We are trying by all means to legalise our stay here but some rogue elements end up spoiling our passports as by pasting their fake permits. I paid R2000 and was later surprised after the guy brought back my passport to note that it was fake one. What puzzles me most is that those officials took my finger prints and behaved as if everything was normal," said a seething Samantha Dube.

Sharon Mashayamombe lamented bribing the bogus officials as they siphoned her money and this later came to haunt her as she is out on bail for being in possession of a fraudulent permit.

"The matter came to light when I was going home for holidays. Immigration officials at the Beitbridge border post arrested me for being in passion of a fraudulent document. I spent the next week behind bars thank God they gave me a bail out. This is very sad and the government must actual try to investigate and arrest those people mesmerising desperate citizens," she added.

Gugu Khumalo, a teacher with a private college also never knew he was in possession of a fake permit until his school authorities invited Immigration officers for vetting of their staff members.

"I nearly lost my Job, but thanks to the patient principal who helped me through the matter and I ended up being issued with a proper permit after the senior Home Affairs officials interfered, "he said.

DHA spokesperson Manusha Pillay urged affected members to come forward and report the matter to them.

Gauteng Police Communications officer, Lungelo Dlamini also mentioned that they haven't yet received any complaint but emphasized that they will deal harshly with anyone who is caught at the wrong side of the law.

However, the department of Home Affairs recently announced "remedial" measures in a desperate effort to stave off international criticism of its handling of asylum seekers, most of them Zimbabweans. It admitted a backlog of more than 150 000 cases in the review process.

Home Affairs Director- general, Mkuseli Apleni, said recently that the department had extended its working hours from 8amâ€"4pm to 7.30am-5pm on weekdays and also open between 8am and 1pm on Saturdays, to clear the log jam.