Court officials in Eastern Cape arrested for selling fake travel permits

Three court officials who allegedly issued and sold fraudulent travel permits to people who wanted to travel through the border town of Sterkspruit in the Eastern Cape have been released on bail, according to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

The officials, who are attached to the office of the clerk of the court, were granted R2,000 bail in the Sterkspruit Magistrate’s Court, regional NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said.

Thobeka Zuma, 41; Wandile Jokozela, 40; and Lazola Mxaka, 36; were arrested by the Hawks on Wednesday 12 August, after allegedly selling travel permits to undercover police during a trap.

“The trio is alleged to have been fraudulently issuing and selling travel permits during the Covid-19 national lockdown to people wishing to travel through the border town of Sterkspruit, which is on the preferred routes to the Free State and Gauteng provinces,” he said.

“They allegedly charged between R150 and R200 for each permit they issued, using the court stamp. It is expected that more charges will be preferred against the accused persons on their next court appearance.”

Their matter was postponed to 18 September for further investigations, he said.

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