The Special Investigating Unit(SIU) welcomed the conviction and sentencing of Zimbabwean national Kudakwashe Mpofu who possessed fraudulent permits used to secure job as CFO of the North West Development Corporation.

Mpofu was sentenced by the Mmabatho Regional Court on two counts of fraud on 12 November 2025 as follows:

  • Count 1: Three years imprisonment, from which he may be placed under correctional supervision at the discretion of the Commissioner of Correctional Services or a parole board.
  • Count 2: Three years imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years on condition that he is not convicted of fraud or any corruption-related offence during the period of suspension.

The SIU revealed that initiated its investigation against Mpofu after they were tipped-off that was in possession of fraudulent Permanent Residence Permit(PRP).

“The conviction follows an SIU investigation into a fraudulent Permanent Residence Permit(PRP) held by Mpofu. He is a Zimbabwean national. The investigation originated from an anonymous tip-off to the Department of Home Affairs' Counter Corruption Unit in July 2023. The SIU's probe through Proclamation No. 154 of 2024 investigates serious maladministration in the Department of Home Affairs. The investigation focuses on the illegal or improper issuance of various visas and permits, including permanent residence, corporate, business, critical skills, study, and retired persons visas, as well as citizenship by naturalisation,” said SIU statement.

The statement mentioned that the SIU's investigation uncovered a pattern of fraudulent activity by Mpofu. It was established that after initially entering South Africa on a valid study visa, Mpofu remained in the country and worked illegally after his visa had expired.

The statement also mentioned that the investigation found that Mr Mpofu had a fraudulent Permanent Residence Permit, which he admitted he had purchased for R3000 from an entity known as MRM Trading Enterprise and Investment, which has no link to the Department of Home Affairs.

The SIU also uncovered that Mpofu possessed a portfolio of other fraudulent documents, including:

  • A fraudulent Critical/Exceptional Skills Visa.
  • A fraudulent Work Permit.
  • A fraudulent Exemption Certificate, purportedly issued in 1996, when Mpofu was only five years old, rendering the document materially impossible and false.

Fraudulently Acquired Benefits

The SIU investigation confirmed that Mpofu intentionally used these fraudulent documents to secure significant benefits to which he was not entitled, including:

  1. Employment at the North West Development Corporation:
  • As an Assets Manager from 01 May 2021 to 01 May 2023, earning R900,000 per annum.
  • As Chief Financial Officer from 01 June 2023, with a contract entitling him to an annual remuneration of R1,632,257.

   2. Issuance of a Traffic Register Number at the Mmabatho Driving Licence Testing Centre,   

     which he used to obtain a learner's and driver's license.

   3. Acquisition of vehicle finance and the purchase of several luxury vehicles, including a              Land Rover Sport, a BMW 3 Series, and a Ford Ranger.