Sinenhlanhla Masilela
Digital Journalist, IOL
A tip-off led to the arrest of Lindiwe Kubheka, 45, who allegedly collaborated with two Ethiopian nationals, Abdo Mustefu Musa, 44, and Mike Alex Abete, 38, in a passport fraud scheme. The Mpumalanga Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, reported the incident in Secunda.
The investigation commenced after the tip-off indicated that Kubheka was involved in stamping expired passports. According to Hawks spokesperson Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, an undercover operation revealed that Abete was paid R20,000 to stamp these documents.
“An agreement was reached for the collection of the stamped passports, but Abete did not honor the agreement,” stated Sekgotodi.
Following this, a warrant for arrest and a search-and-seizure operation was authorized and executed on September 16, 2024. During the search, authorities discovered numerous documents from the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Transport.
These documents will be forwarded to the respective departments for further analysis.
During questioning, Abete admitted that he had given the R20,000 and passports to Musa. When approached, Musa confessed to receiving passports and R5,000 from Abete, which he then passed on to Kubheka. In her defense, Kubheka claimed she only received the passports and R2,500.
The investigation team conducted a search and successfully seized three passports during the operation.
The trio appeared before the Eerstehoek Magistrate’s Court in Elukwatini and were released on R3,000 bail each. They are scheduled to return to court on November 5, 2024.
