Home Affairs gets tough on ID theft after probe shows yearly loss of R2bn
THE FACT that South Africa is losing R2 billion a year due to identity theft has spurred the Department of Home Affairs to beef up its counter-corruption project to take on officials involved in identity theft.
In a statement, Minister Malusi Gigaba said there was no place for corrupt officials at Home Affairs. “We have room only for an official that is serviceoriented, professional, competent, committed, ethical and incorruptible,” he said.
His statement came after a month-long investigation led to eight officials from the department being arrested for, among others, ID fraud, selling fake unabridged birth certificates to foreigners and the illegal stamping of a passport.
In one of the arrests, a woman was sentenced to 11 years’ jail, of which three were suspended, in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crime Court for fraud and corruption relating to subsistence and travel allowances.
Home Affairs spokesman Mayihlome Tshwete said they had received the figures of the cost of identity theft from the private sector.
“Identity theft not only costs the country billions but also has a personal impact on these victims whose lives are brought to a halt during this period,” he said.
To prevent these large-scale identity theft cases, the department has now modernised the application process for an ID by making it an online process.
“We are doing away with using paper for applications and opting for online applications. It makes applicants less vulnerable to someone who can manipulate their details on paper,” Tshwete pointed out.
He added that the counter-corruption project had also collaborated with the Hawks and acquired more resources to beef up the project.
Deputy credit ombudsman Reana Steyn said they had also seen an increase in complaints related to identity theft.
The credit ombudsman dealt with cases where credit records were affected by the person whose ID was stolen and debt made in their name.
“We once had a case where a man’s ID was stolen and the perpetrator took out a bond for a house. When it came to light that it was not his details, all the bank could do was write off the bond.”
Identity thieves seldom deal with cash and usually open clothing accounts or buy cars and then disappear. “People should be more aware of ID theft. When a debt collector calls you about an outstanding account you don’t know about, it should alert you,” she warned.