Pretoria – The Hawks in North West have on Wednesday morning arrested 15 police officers and two home affairs officials for their alleged involvement in the corruption at the Kopfontein Border Post.
Sixteen police officers stationed at Kopfontein Border Post, one from Vehicle Identification Unit in Rustenburg and the other Swartruggens Detective Services, together with two home affairs officials allegedly accepted, agreed or offered to accept gratifications from persons crossing the border in order for them bypass the standard procedure at the border between June 2014 and March this year.
The suspects’ shenanigans were revealed during a Crime Intelligence operation in the area. These officials were found to be allowing person and vehicles to enter and leave the country unsearched and without demanding to see necessary documentations.
The head of the Directorate For Priority Crime Investigation Lieutenant General Mthandazo Ntlemeza has congratulated the team and warned that this operation is of many to be effected countrywide.
“What occurred cannot be celebrated, it is an embarrassment to the country, the SAPS, Home Affairs and to the families of the suspects. The arrests should also come as a warning to all other corrupt members and officials working at all ports of entries that we coming for you as well.
“South Africans experts exceptional service whilst our visitors need not be afraid to come and visit this beautiful country. We mean business, and we will not rest until we read our country of all forms of corruption”, he warned.
The suspects will appear before the Zeereust Magistrate’s Court on 19 November 2015 facing charges of fraud and corruption.
