A local immigration officer and his two South African counterparts have been arrested after allegedly accepting an E100 bribe to unlawfully stamp the passports of two Zimbabwean nationals at the Ngwenya Border Post.
The arrests, made on Friday, have cast a spotlight on ongoing efforts by authorities both in the country and South Africa to stamp out corruption at ports of entry. Police said the three suspects were arrested at around 1:50pm and have since been charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The alleged suspects have been identified as Nkhosingiphile Dlamini (51) of Mpakeni, an employee of the country’s ministry of home affairs under the immigration department, as well as Thulani Ndhlanzi (44) of Belfast, South Africa, and Mxolisi Mokoena (38) of Bethal, South Africa, both employees of South Africa’s Border Management Authority (BMA).
According to reports, the trio allegedly unlawfully stamped the passports of two Zimbabwean passport holders before receiving E100 in return for facilitating the illegal transaction. Acting Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Mazwi Ndzimandze confirmed the arrests yesterday.
“The Royal Eswatini Police Service always collaborates with the South African Police Service because crime has no borders,” said Ndzimandze, adding that investigations into the matter were ongoing. Ministry of Home Affairs Communications Officer Mlandvo Dlamini could not be reached for comment.
The latest arrests come against the backdrop of a series of corruption and fraud investigations involving immigration officials in recent years. In 2024, Ministry of Home Affairs Assistant Immigration Officer Mboneni Nkosinathi Zwane was arrested and charged with 33 counts of fraud, theft, and money laundering. He was accused of involvement in a major passport corruption and bribery scheme alongside a Zimbabwean national.
The same investigation also led to the arrest of a Sicunusa Border Post immigration officer after police allegedly recovered travel documents and official stamps during a search of her home. Charges were also brought against seven ministry of home affairs officials accused of unlawfully issuing dozens of identity documents and passports to foreign nationals under the guise of refugee registration.
Another notable recent case involved Assistant Immigration Officer Misiwe Jele-Hlatshwayo, who was arrested alongside other ministry officials as part of a broader anti-corruption crackdown linked to an alleged immigration fraud syndicate involving the illegal issuance of passports, visas and travel documents to foreign nationals without proper authorisation.
She faced charges for abusing her position to facilitate irregular document processing in breach of official procedures. The charges fell under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Immigration Act, amid a wider probe that saw multiple officers suspended, searched, or arrested over claims of systemic bribery, document theft, and the operation of a network inside immigration offices.
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The ministry, through previous statements, has acknowledged allegations of misconduct within the Immigration Department and stated that it was taking a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to corruption. Officers implicated in illegal activities have been suspended, subjected to disciplinary hearings, or handed over to law enforcement for criminal investigation.
The latest arrest in question comes at a time when South Africa’s Border Management Authority (BMA) has intensified its fight against corruption through the Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum (BMIACF). It is a partnership involving law enforcement agencies, anti-corruption bodies and other stakeholders.
The initiative was launched to tackle bribery, fraud and other corrupt practices at border posts, which authorities say pose a serious threat to national security and effective border management. As part of the campaign, anti-corruption awareness programmes have been rolled out at key ports of entry, including Oshoek, Beitbridge and Maseru Bridge.
Border officials have been encouraged to sign integrity pledges and participate in awareness sessions highlighting the consequences of corruption. The BMA has also introduced mechanisms encouraging members of the public to report corrupt activities at ports of entry.
Through initiatives such as Operation Hi-Tivise, travellers and communities are urged to provide information that could assist authorities in identifying dishonest officials and criminal networks. The Authority has consistently maintained that corruption at border posts facilitates illegal migration, document fraud, smuggling and other cross-border crimes, while eroding public trust in government institutions.
Recent anti-corruption operations in South Africa have resulted in the dismissal of numerous officials implicated in wrongdoing, underscoring the determination of authorities to clean up ports of entry. The Ngwenya Border Post is one of the busiest crossing points between the two neighbouring countries, handling thousands of travellers and commercial vehicles each year.
