Two Home Affairs officials have on Wednesday appeared in the Protea Magistrates’ Court in connection with an investigation into an alleged passport racket in which foreign nationals are believed to have paid as much as R100,000 for South African travel documents.
Aluwani Andries Netshidaulu and Nthombifuthi Phyllis Mokwebo were arrested on Tuesday, 29 September, during an operation linked to Project Humulani, an investigation that has been running since 2021.
They face charges of racketeering, corruption, fraud and contravening the Immigration Act.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Regional Spokesperson for the Gauteng Division Mogaboke Mohlatlole, investigators allege that the syndicate used the personal details of legitimate South African citizens together with photographs of foreign nationals to facilitate the fraudulent issuing of South African passports.
The alleged transactions ranged from R50,000 to R100,000 per passport.
In a statement, the NPA says officials allegedly involved in processing the applications received between R10,000 and R15,000, while South African citizens whose details were allegedly used were paid about R500.
Project Humulani
The investigation began in 2021 after authorities received information about an alleged network involving foreign nationals, South African citizens and Home Affairs officials.
Since then, investigators have seized luxury vehicles and blocked or cancelled hundreds of passports allegedly obtained through fraudulent means.
The investigation has also resulted in a conviction.
The NPA says a Pakistani national, Arfan Ahmad, has been convicted in connection with the broader investigation and is serving a 14-year direct imprisonment sentence. He appeared in court alongside Netshidaulu and Mokwebo, but his matter was postponed to allow him to obtain legal representation.
Investigators allege that Ahmad had a corrupt relationship with Home Affairs officials.
Netshidaulu and Mokwebo were each granted R5,000 bail without opposition.
The NPA said the investigation remains ongoing, with authorities tracing the alleged network and its financial transactions. Further arrests are expected.
The three accused are due back in the Protea Magistrates’ Court on 4 November 2026.
