Hawks Nab Final Suspect in Multi-Million-Rand Home Affairs Passport Fraud Syndicate
The Hawks have arrested the final outstanding suspect linked to “Project Humulani,” a massive undercover operation that dismantled a multi-million-rand passport fraud, corruption, and human smuggling syndicate.
The 41-year-old suspect was apprehended by the Hawks’ East Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit in Tubatse, Limpopo, on Friday.
He faces serious charges, including fraud, corruption, violations of the Immigration Act, and racketeering. He is scheduled to appear in the Protea Glen Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 22 October 2026.
Project Humulani was officially registered in April 2022 following intelligence gathered in December 2021 regarding syndicate operations at South Africa’s borders.
The syndicate operated through a sophisticated cross-border network: A foreign national ran the operation, the leader colluded with corrupt Department of Home Affairs officials and vulnerable South African citizens and the syndicate used a process known as “photo-swapping.”
They took the valid identity details of South African citizens and replaced the photographs with those of foreign nationals to issue fraudulent South African passport.
The multi-disciplinary investigation—led by the Hawks’ East Rand Serious Organised Crime Investigation alongside the Department of Home Affairs, the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU), and the Director of Public Prosecutions—has secured major victories over its duration.
The syndicate leader was previously convicted and sentenced to 14 years of direct imprisonment.
Authorities seized three Toyota Fortuner SUVs utilized by the syndicate.
Several hundreds of fraudulently issued passports have been successfully blocked and cancelled.
Brigadier Paulina Sekgobela, the Acting Provincial Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), commended and congratulated the investigation team for their excellent work and relentless dedication to finalizing this case.
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