Undocumented Foreign National Arrested For Using Stolen Identity To Work For Years At Tshwane Water Plant

An undocumented foreign national has been arrested in Pretoria after allegedly working for the City of Tshwane for several years under a stolen identity. The suspect, known by his given name Prince, was employed at the Rietvlei Water Treatment Plant while posing as Mohlaume Geoffrey Mamabolo.

The arrest followed a directive from the Office of the Chief Operations Officer (COO) to investigate concerns regarding possible identity fraud.

Verification by Home Affairs

City of Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba confirmed that discrepancies emerged after the suspect’s fingerprints failed to match records in the Department of Home Affairs database. This raised concerns about his legal status in the country.

Further verification revealed that the real Mr Mamabolo’s identity document had been issued in 2013, and the associated identity number had already been flagged and blocked when the suspect previously attempted to apply for a smart ID card.

“When questioned, he failed to provide a valid explanation for the discrepancy, could not recall details of his upbringing or schooling, and ultimately admitted that he was not Mr Mamabolo,” Bokaba stated.

The suspect also disclosed that he had obtained the fraudulent identity document several years ago from an individual in Polokwane.

Court Appearance Scheduled For The Foreign National

It was further established that the suspect had no permanent residential address and had been residing on municipal property since his appointment at the water treatment facility.

He is expected to appear before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 18 August 2025, where he will face charges relating to fraud and identity theft.

Municipal authorities have indicated that the matter underscores the importance of strengthened verification and vetting processes for employees within critical infrastructure facilities.

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