A Qonce (formerly King William’s Town) farm owner was arrested by members of the East London Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, for allegedly attempting to bribe a Home Affairs immigration official in Qonce.
Yolisa Linda Hlongwane (49), who owns a small farm on the outskirts of Qonce, made a brief appearance at the Qonce Magistrates’ Court and was released on R500 bail on Tuesday, 12 November. The case was postponed to 27 January for further investigation. She is facing charges of corruption.
The Eastern Cape Hawks’ spokesperson, Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, confirmed that Hlongwane was arrested by the East London Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigating Unit on Monday.
“It is alleged that on Saturday, 9 November, an immigration official arrested a foreign national for being in the country illegally. While processing the suspect, the official reportedly received a text message from Hlongwane indicating that the official must release her farmworker, who is an illegal immigrant, and was willing to pay the official a R2,000 gratification fee,” said Mhlakuvana.
An undercover operation was conducted between the police and the official, where Hlongwane was witnessed handing over the money to the immigration official in Qonce, and the Hawks arrested her on the spot.
Since the beginning of this year, Home Affairs immigration officials in Qonce and the police have intensified crackdowns and raid operations, arresting and deporting illegal and undocumented foreign nationals residing in town and nearby townships.
About nine illegal foreign nationals were arrested in a rented communal flat in Buffalo Street, and others in the town during a raid operation conducted on Monday, 11 November.
