A Zimbabwean man has been sentenced to jail in South Africa after a court found he used a fake permanent resident permit to secure a senior government job earning over R1.6 million per year.

The Mmabatho Regional Court on November 12, 2025, convicted Kudakwashe Mpofu of fraud after he admitted buying a falsified South African permanent residence permit for R3,000. The permit helped him obtain employment at the North West Development Corporation (NWDC), where he rose to the position of chief financial officer.

According to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), Mpofu received three years in prison on the first count, although this may be converted to correctional supervision. He was also handed an additional three-year sentence, wholly suspended for five years, on condition that he does not commit further fraud or corruption offences.

Investigators established that the permanent residence permit Mpofu used had no connection to the Department of Home Affairs. “Mpofu admitted that he bought the fraudulent document from a private individual,” the SIU said in a statement.

Further investigations uncovered more fraudulent documents in his possession. These included a Critical/Exceptional Skills Visa, a work permit and an exemption certificate dated 1996 — a year in which he was only five years old. The SIU said he used these forged papers to remain in South Africa after his student visa expired.

The fake documents enabled Mpofu to secure senior roles within the NWDC. He was first appointed as an assets manager earning R900,000 per year before being promoted to CFO, where his salary rose to R1.63 million. He also used the documents to obtain a South African driver’s licence and to access vehicle financing for a Land Rover Sport, a BMW 3 Series and a Ford Ranger.

Authorities began investigating the case after a 2023 tip-off to the Department of Home Affairs. The matter formed part of the SIU’s broader inquiry into fraudulent visas and permits issued in South Africa.

The evidence gathered by the SIU was handed to the National Prosecuting Authority, which led the prosecution resulting in Mpofu’s conviction. The SIU said the outcome reflects strong cooperation with the NPA and serves as a warning against the use of fraudulent immigration documents for employment and other benefits.

Zimbabwean Jailed in South Africa for Using Fake Documents to Secure Top Job

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