Former Home Affairs Official Gets 12-Year Jail Term for Passport Fraud

The South African justice system has delivered a decisive blow against corruption with the conviction and sentencing of Judy Zuma, a former Home Affairs official implicated in a passport fraud syndicate. The syndicate, which involved the illicit provision of South African passports to ineligible foreign nationals, was unearthed resulting in Zuma receiving an effective 12-year sentence to be served in prison.

Zuma's conviction comes after a plea of guilty to charges of fraud, corruption, and contraventions of the Immigration Act and Identification Act. The sentencing comprised 12 years of direct jail time, with an additional 24 years suspended, highlighting the judicial system's intolerance for corrupt activities within government entities.

The investigation, led by the Hawks, found concerning links between Zuma and foreign nationals from countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The accused assisted these individuals in unlawfully obtaining South African passports by substituting their photographs and assuming the identities of South African citizens. This illicit exchange reportedly profited Zuma R4,000 per passport.

In total, 193 fraudulent passports were flagged as a result of the fraudulent operations between May 28 and June 12, 2021. Measures have been taken to mitigate the potential use of these documents, with immediate arrest mandated for any attempt to use these fraudulently obtained passports at South African ports of entry. The Department of Home Affairs reported that two foreign nationals are already fulfilling their sentences for participating in the corrupt scheme, while another pair were sentenced to four years of imprisonment.

The case took a notable turn with the revelation that Zuma was roped into the syndicate by another former Home Affairs official, Zima Shange, who also faced the consequences of the legal system with a 10-year sentence in October 2023.

Dr Leon Schreiber, the Minister of Home Affairs, commented sternly on the sentencing, insisting it underline a new dawn of zero tolerance for corruption within the department. He emphasized that Home Affairs' integral role in upholding national security makes the battle against corruption even more critical. Schreiber is adamant on bolstering the counter-corruption branch's efforts to eradicate depravity of this nature.

In a distinct statement, the minister condemned the actions of Zuma and her confederates, expressing a fervent desire for the consequences of her actions to resonate with her during her incarceration. Furthermore, Schreiber asserted the unwavering commitment to reforming Home Affairs into an institution that ensures dignity, unfazed by the hurdles corruption presents.