Zimbabwean National Jailed For Using Fake Papers To Land Lucrative R1.6 Million Job In South Africa

Zimbabwean Man Jailed For R1.6 Million Job Fraud In South Africa

A Zimbabwean national has been convicted and sent to prison for fraud in South Africa after it was revealed he purchased a fake permanent residence permit. This fraudulent document allowed him to secure a top-level position as a chief financial officer with an annual salary exceeding R1.6 million.

The elaborate scheme involved documents dating back to when he was just a young child.

Elaborate Web Of Forgery Exposed

Kudakwashe Mpofu was sentenced by the Mmabatho Regional Court on 12 November 2025. According to a statement from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), Mpofu received a three-year prison sentence on the first count, which may be converted to correctional supervision.

He received a further three-year sentence, wholly suspended for five years, on the condition he does not commit further fraud or corruption offences.

The investigation revealed the flimsy foundation of Mpofu’s career. The SIU reported that Mpofu admitted to buying a fraudulent South African permanent residence permit for R3,000 (approximately US$160) from a private individual.

This individual had no connection to the official Department of Home Affairs. The SIU’s probe uncovered a cache of other counterfeit documents in his possession.

The Special Investigating Unit stated, “An SIU investigation also uncovered several other fraudulent documents in his possession, including a Critical/Exceptional Skills Visa, a work permit and an exemption certificate dated 1996, when he was only five years old.”

Zimbabwean Man Jailed For R1.6 Million Job Fraud In South Africa — [Image: Zimlive]

Rapid Ascent To A Lucrative Career

Using these forged papers, Mpofu was able to remain in South Africa after his student visa had expired. His career trajectory was both rapid and highly lucrative. He first secured a position as an assets manager at the North West Development Corporation (NWDC), earning a substantial salary of R900,000 (approximately US$48,000) per year.

His rise did not stop there. He was later promoted to the role of chief financial officer for the same corporation. In this executive position, his annual salary skyrocketed to R1.63 million (approximately US$87,000). The fraudulent documents provided him with benefits far beyond his employment.

The SIU confirmed, “He also used the fake papers to obtain a South African driver’s licence and access vehicle financing, acquiring a Land Rover Sport, BMW 3 Series and Ford Ranger.”

Investigation Triggered By A Tip-Off

The case against Mpofu began not from an internal audit, but from an external source. According to the SIU, the investigation was initiated following a tip-off made to the Department of Home Affairs in 2023.

This tip-off fell under the SIU’s broader probe into the fraudulent issuing of visas and permits across South Africa. The evidence meticulously gathered by the SIU was subsequently handed over to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which led to the successful prosecution and conviction.

In their statement, the SIU said, “The outcome demonstrates strong collaboration with the NPA and sends a clear warning about the consequences of using fraudulent immigration documents to obtain state employment and other benefits.”