Police in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province have arrested three individuals accused of facilitating fraudulent marriages between local women and undocumented foreign men in a scheme aimed at securing spousal visas and citizenship.
The arrests followed Monday’s raid on a clandestine operation, described as a “home affairs office,” located in Durban.
Police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda told reporters that the suspects allegedly obtained identity documents from South African women to orchestrate these illegal marriages with foreign nationals.
The fake husbands would then be able to attain South African citizenship through these fraudulent arrangements, according to Netshiunda.
During the raid, officials seized a variety of items, including application forms, identity document copies and electronic devices, which are expected to aid in the ongoing investigation.
Preliminary findings have also indicated the involvement of a home affairs official reportedly colluding with the suspects, raising the possibility of additional arrests as the investigation progresses.
JN/APA