In another crackdown on border control corruption, a Border Management Authority official was arrested for allegedly accepting R600 to unlawfully stamp a Lesotho national’s passport at the Maseru Port of Entry last month.

The official was taken into custody on Thursday following a joint investigation by the Department of Home Affairs’ Counter Corruption branch, the South African Police Service Crime Intelligence division and Ladybrand Detectives.

According to the Department of Home Affairs, the official is accused of endorsing the passport on 29 June 2026 even though the Lesotho national did not present herself at the immigration counter as required by law.

The alleged offence came to light after police arrested the Lesotho national in an unrelated matter. During that investigation, information emerged that money had been paid through intermediaries to arrange the unlawful passport endorsement.

Investigators then traced the payment to identify the BMA officer allegedly responsible for the fraudulent immigration stamp.

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Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber welcomed the arrest on Friday, saying corrupt officials who undermine border management must face consequences.

“Every corrupt official who undermines the integrity of South Africa’s border management system must know that the net is closing in. We are working relentlessly across the Home Affairs ecosystem with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who abuse the public’s trust are identified, arrested and prosecuted,” Schreiber said.

The accused has been charged with corruption and is expected to appear in the Ladybrand Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

The investigation continues and authorities have not ruled out further arrests.

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