MPHENI – Four people, among them a traditional leader and a school principal, were arrested this week on fraud charges, shortly before and after the screening of a television programme, linking them to scams through which illegal immigrants are obtaining legal South African identity documents.

The four, school principal Alfred Muila (51), Headman Frank Davhana (47), Mr Vincent Tambani (33), clerk at the Mpheni tribal office and Mr Rangani Prince Maluleke (41) appeared in the Waterval Magistrate’s Court yesterday(Thursday). They were not asked to plead and the case was postponed to Monday (February 28). They are in custody.

When Mr MA Muila, principal of Tshimonela Primary School at Mpheni Block C went to his school on Wednesday, little did he know that the Thohoyandou Organised Crime Unit was on its way to arrest him. His arrest came as a shock to teachers and learners and they looked on in dismay when he was taken to the police vehicles.

On Tuesday, the police arrested Rangani Prince Maluleke, an official working at the Department of Home Affairs in Elim, while his colleague, Mrs Grace Mukwevho (48) was denied bail on Tuesday when she appeared in the Waterval Magistrate’s Court. She was arrested last Friday and is expected to appear again at the Hlanganani Magistrate’s Court in Waterval on Monday.

Headman Davhana and his clerk, Tambani, were arrested on Wednesday.

The SABC 3 Special Assignment programme screened the headman and his clerk allegedly facilitating testimonials to illegal immigrants to confirm that they are lawful residents of his settlements. In the programme, footage was screened of Muila, the school principal, allegedly issuing testimonials to illegal foreigners, claiming that they were students at his school. The testimonials were making it easier for the illegal foreigners to obtain the South African identity documents.

An official at the Home Affairs Department, who agreed to speak to Mirror on condition of anonymity, said that they are co-operating with the SAPS to root out irregularities in their department. Police spokesperson in the Vhembe area, Capt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi said that as investigations are still continuing they are expecting to arrest more people. He further appealed to the public to alert the police if they suspect individuals of assisting illegal immigrants to get the South African identity books.