Bail has been set at for two foreign nationals, accused of running a marriage-for-visa operation out of a block of flats in Durban's Grevyille area.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Khalid Hoosen and Sirajbhai Isiyailbhai Patel, aged 58 and 56, made their second appearance in the Durban Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, where where bail was set at R20,000.
At the time of their arrest on October 28, South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said crime intelligence officers, working together with Metro Police Tactical Support Unit, Sydenham Trio Task Team and Home Affairs Immigration officers, pounced on the clandestine Home Affairs office, which was used to facilitate illegal marriages and spousal visas at a block of flats on Matthews Meyiwa Road.
He added that the accused would use identity documents belonging to SA women, and marry them to undocumented foreign nationals in order for the men to obtain SA citizenship.
"The men face charges of contravening various sections of the Immigration Act," said NPA spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara.
She explained that the charges pertain to the two men allegedly unlawfully producing documentation purporting to be documents issued by the National Department of Home Affairs, and allegedly operating an office providing the services of an immigration practitioner when they were not authorised to do so.
She added that this week's appearance was for bail verification and bail was set at R20,000 for each of them.
"In addition, their bail conditions included that they report to the Durban Central Police Station once a week and that they surrender their passports to the Investigating Officer. The case was postponed to February 15 for further investigations," Ramkisson-Kara said.
Police said their preliminary investigations have thus far identified a Home Affairs official who has been working in cahoots with the suspects.
“More arrests cannot be ruled out as investigations unfold," Netshiunda added.
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