Two BMA officials arrested for stamping expired passports belonging to foreign nationals

Mpumalanga BMA officials face corruption charges over expired passports.

Two Border Management Authority (BMA) officials have appeared in the Piet Retief Magistrate’s Court following their arrest over alleged corruption, fraud and immigration offences at the Emahlathini Border Gate in Mpumalanga.

Msebenzi Abednigo Mgobo and Mbuso Mnisi appeared in court on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, after being arrested during a police operation on Monday.

The suspects were arrested by members of the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) Organised Crime Investigation Unit following an investigation into alleged corrupt activities at the border gate.

The investigation began in July after police received information about officials allegedly involved in unlawfully stamping expired passports belonging to foreign nationals.

Police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said preliminary investigations revealed that one of the suspects allegedly collected passports from individuals in Gauteng and transported them to the border gate, where they were allegedly stamped in exchange for payment.

Masondo said the alleged scheme prompted a takedown operation on Monday, which resulted in the arrest of the two officials.

A third suspect, who was also identified during the investigation, has since died.

The case was registered at the Piet Retief Police Station, with the accused facing charges of corruption, fraud and contravention of the Immigration Act.

The two accused were remanded in custody until November 10, when they are expected to make a formal bail application.

Mpumalanga SAPS Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Apaphia Modise reiterated the police's commitment to rooting out corruption and ensuring that those who undermine the integrity of law enforcement and border management processes are brought to justice.