FREE STATE – A 43-year-old foreign national is facing multiple criminal charges, including fraud and contravention of the Immigration Act, after being arrested for allegedly tampering with legal documents to assist zama-zamas (illegal miners) in the Bloemfontein area. The arrest follows a targeted law enforcement operation focused on dismantling document forgery networks in known fraud hotspots.
On Monday, 7 September 2026, members of the Parkweg Crime Prevention Unit were conducting routine duties under #OperationShanela2, visiting identified crime hotspot areas. During a visit to an internet café at the Old Market Complex, located at the corner of Henry and West Burger Streets, officers observed an African male actively altering and editing details on a green Republic of South Africa identity document. When confronted by law enforcement, the suspect initially could not provide an explanation for his actions.
A subsequent search of the suspect’s black backpack yielded a significant cache of fraudulent materials. Authorities recovered identity documents bearing varying details, passports, birth certificates, death certificates, and smart cards that had been altered by pasting falsified pages onto them. Additionally, officers discovered proof of birth documents representing both the Republic of South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho, alongside pro-forma affidavits that were already stamped but left incomplete by a police official.
The investigation was promptly joined by a Counter-Corruption Official from the Department of Home Affairs. Together, they conducted an expanded search at the nearby Phomolong Informal Settlement. During this sweep, personnel from the Local Criminal Record Centre processed additional seized items, which included confidential DNA documents, official documents bearing the national Code of Arms, bank statements, and South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) affidavits.
When questioned further, the 43-year-old suspect admitted to officers that his actions were intended to assist his “zama-zama” brothers, a colloquial term for illegal miners operating in the region.
Consequently, a case docket has been officially opened at the Parkweg Police Station. The suspect faces charges of fraud for altering and tampering with legal documents, possession of suspected stolen property, and contravention of the Immigration Act. He remains in custody and is expected to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court in the near future to face the charges.