An alleged scheme to bypass South Africa's birth registration system has landed a Home Affairs official and an accomplice in handcuffs after Hawks investigators uncovered the suspected fraudulent processing of late birth certificates for two children, allegedly in exchange for a bribe.
The two suspects, aged 37 and 40, were arrested after an intensive investigation by the Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation unit in Musina into alleged fraud and corruption linked to the unlawful registration of births at the Malamulele Department of Home Affairs office in July 2019.
According to Hawks spokesperson in Limpopo Colonel Avele Fumba, a Home Affairs official attached to the Births and Deaths Registration Section allegedly facilitated the late registration of birth certificates for two children without following the legal procedures required by law.
"It is further alleged that the process was influenced by the receipt of an unlawful gratification, the amount of which is yet to be determined," said Fumba.
The investigation revealed that one of the suspects allegedly approached his cousin for help in securing late birth registration certificates for his biological children after the death of their foreign national mother, reportedly so the children could be admitted to school.
