Court strikes illegal immigration office case off the role

The case against a Chinese national (26) for allegedly running an illegal immigration office was struck off the role at the Johannesburg Commercial Court on Wednesday last week.

The man and three women were arrested at a property along Degelis Street in Bruma on Tuesday last week.

The Yeoville SAPS communications officer, Constable Mpho Mashakane, said units, including the SAPS National Intervention Unit, Home Affairs and Immigration officials, raided the house after receiving a tip-off.

“About 141 police clearance certificates, 89 Chinese Passports, blank-signed SAPS affidavits, Home Affairs work permit forms, Department of Labor documents and three desktop computers were among the items confiscated during the arrest,” said Cost Mashakane.

She said the case was struck off the court role when the three appeared in court.

The prosecution cited a lack of sufficient evidence.

Following the arrest, the Hawks’ spokesperson, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, said the police were investigating the role the two women had played in the alleged offenses.

He said more arrests were imminent.

“We are investigating the possible involvement of a Home Affairs official as the man had original documents. These documents are not accessible to anyone except officials. Other documents from SARS and the SAPS were found during the arrest,” said Brig Mulaudzi.

The women were both South Africans.

Const Mashakane said the investigation into the case will continue.

“The SAPS will study the court ruling and determine the way way forward. This is not the end of this case,” said Const Mashakane.

Attempts to obtain comment from the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) spokesperson, Luvuyo Faku, were unsuccessful.