Police in Ekurhuleni arrested five men, aged between 23 and 54 years, for generating fake documentation including pay slips and matric certificates.
City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department’s community liaison unit task team in conjunction with Gauteng special law enforcement unit apprehended two Malawians, two Nigerians and a South African for allegedly generating fake documentation.
He said the documents also included police clearance certificates, driver’s licenses, matric certificates, firearm competency certificates, face value documentation and medical certificates.
“The authorities received a tip off about a syndicate dealing in false documentation,” said Dlamini.
“Upon arrival at Flavour Shop at the corner of Voortrekker and Pretoria Road they found equipment including a photocopy machine, fax and other equipment suspected to have been used in the production of the fake documentation.”
The fake documents were seized by police.
During the arrests one of the accused men allegedly attempted to bribe police with R1,000 to set them free, but his attempt failed. The suspects are detained at Kempton Park police station.
“They are expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of fraud, uttering and bribery,” said Dlamini.
“The EMPD commends the officers for their courage and excellent work in rooting out lawlessness, and will stop at nothing to root our crime in Ekurhuleni.”
Last year, IOL reported that a 43-year-old man was arrested in Pretoria central for allegedly selling fraudulent documents, including birth certificates, fake identity documents, and fake doctors’ notes.
The man, who is a South African national, was also selling fake identity documents, according to Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba, spokesperson for the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD).
Mahamba said the operation was initiated after the TMPD received a tip-off from the SAPS crime intelligence unit, about a man producing fraudulent government documents at Van Erkom Building, situated along Pretorius Street in the city centre.
The man was arrested during a joint operation by the TMPD and the SAPS crime intelligence unit.
“In the Pretoria CBD, one suspect was arrested by members from the TMPD accident unit with the crime intelligence unit for fraud. The suspect has an office where he sells fraudulent documents from Home Affairs, licensing departments and other institutions,” Mahamba said at the time.
IOL