A Home Affairs official in Pinetown has been arrested on corruption charges linked to the alleged facilitation of a fraudulent death registration.
Authorities say the 43-year-old woman is accused of assisting in registering a fake death last year. The matter came under scrutiny after the Department of Home Affairs’ Counter Corruption Unit launched an investigation into the irregular registration.
During the probe, it is alleged that the official attempted to bribe an investigator with R3 000 in an effort to derail the investigation.
A sting operation was subsequently set up on Thursday afternoon with the assistance of South African Police Service, leading to her arrest.
She has since been charged and is expected to appear in court soon.
KwaZulu-Natal provincial manager for the Department of Home Affairs, Cyril Mncwabe, welcomed the arrest, saying a strict crackdown on corrupt officials within the department is currently underway.