Limpopo – A corrupt former Lephalale Home Affairs official, 36,received a suspended sentence after she was found guilty of selling identity documents (ID’s) by the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
It is said that between 2015 and 2016, Seremula, who used to work at the Department of Home Affairs in Lephalale, used to sell birth certificates and identity documents to foreign nationals who were in the country illegally.
It is said that she sold the documents for between R2000 and R2500. Seremula’s corruption activities were then reported to Home Affairs investigators. As a result, a corruption case was opened and the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation members handled the case.
Corrupt Home Affairs official gets suspended Sentence.
Corrupt Home Affairs official gets suspended sentence at Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
In 2020, she was arrested and, after a few court appearances, Seremula was released on bail until she was found guilty and sentenced on October 12, 2022. Seremula was sentenced on three counts, two of corruption and one for contravention of the Immigration Act.
Count 1: Corruption-Sentenced to six (6) years’ imprisonment, which is wholly suspended for five (5) years.
Count 2: Contravention of the Immigration Act-sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment, which is wholly suspended for five years.
Count 3: Corruption-sentenced to six (6) years’ imprisonment, which is also wholly suspended for five (5) years.
Although the accused will not serve a jail term, the message was sent out there that the Hawks are busy rooting out corruption within the government. The accused was ordered not to commit similar offences during the suspension period, “said Captain Matimba Maluleke.
