PRETORIA – The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General (Dr/Adv) Godfrey Lebeya commended the outstanding apprehension of 36-year-old Pone Simon Dithipe charged with contravention of the Immigration Act during a multi-disciplinary sting operation on 13 April 2022 at the OR Tambo International Airport.
This comes after the recent arrest of 28 suspects accused of fraud targeting Department of Home Affairs in Krugersdorp.
The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation in Germiston together with the Department of Home Affairs embarked on an operation related to smuggling of illegal immigrants into the country without valid visa.
It was reported that the suspect allegedly charged a substantial amount from each traveller to be unlawfully and illegally granted permission to enter South Africa.
The investigation team together with the Department of Home Affairs’ Counter Corruption successfully obtained substantial evidence against the perpetrators which resulted to the issuing of the warrant of arrest.
Yesterday, the Minister of Home Affairs and the Hawks’ management proceeded to the airport where the accused allegedly permitted five Bangladeshis into the country.
Further probing into the matter, authorities sent all five Bangladeshis back to their country as they did not possess any valid travelling documents.
Lieutenant General Lebeya further expressed his gratitude to all departments involved in this investigation.
Dithipe appeared in the Park Magistrates’ Court today where he was granted R2000 bail. The matter was postponed until 25 May 2022.