Zimbabwean Arrested In SA With 582 Passports And R147,000 Cash Remanded In Custody

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Zimbabwean Arrested In SA With 582 Passports And R147,000 Cash Remanded In Custody

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Edward Chitaizvi, a 43-year-old Zimbabwean, appeared in court in Mpumalanga, South Africa, following his arrest for possession of 582 passports and over R147,000 in cash hidden in a bakkie.

Mpumalanga Provincial police spokesperson Captain Mpho Nonyane-Mpe confirmed that Chitaizvi made a brief appearance before the Waterval Boven Periodical Court, where he was remanded in custody as authorities continue with verification and further investigations linked to the case. Said Nonyane-Mpe:

“The accused, Mr Edward Chitaizvi, is remanded in custody for verification of the address. He will appear at Belfast Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 15 December 2025.”

On Wednesday, Captain Mpho Nonyane-Mpe said a multi-disciplinary team, including the Middelburg Flying Squad, Nkangala District Anti-Hijacking Team, and Waterval Boven SAPS, intercepted a white Chevrolet Utility with Gauteng registration plates on Monday at around 1 PM, following a tip-off.

During a search of the vehicle, officers discovered hundreds of passports, some containing cash, hidden in a secret compartment.

They also recovered about R20,000 wrapped in a black plastic bag, bringing the total seized cash to approximately R147,300. Said Nonyane-Mpe:

“Investigation thus far suggests that the driver was probably going to meet someone the next day to have the passports stamped. Police are of the view that the recovered cash was meant for payment.”

In 2024, an immigration officer in Mpumalanga appeared in court after allegedly stamping a Tanzanian national’s expired passport in exchange for a R1,000 bribe.

More: IOL

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Lovemore Muzira

Lovemore

Lovemore Muzira is a regular contributor to Pindula News with a background in Political Science and International Relations. He has eight years of experience reporting on local news, with a strong focus on politics, human rights, environmental issues, and social affairs.

Comments

3 responses

  1. Mpho Munyai

    Surely if the Zimbabwean engineer hired by a Polokwane Municipality has such qualifications and experience and no one from South Africa with equal or credible qualifications has applied, the appointment must surely stand and his merit must be judged on the field and not on political benches. If meritocracy has to be applied and none in our country has shown an interest to exhibit such and an African has it,let’s be open to let him give us the results we need. If this cat who can catch the mice that continue to give us headaches has a tag called Zimbabwe and can catch mice,surely let us have it roaming our waterways rather than have one who can’t catch them and has a South African tag! I wonder if the incumbent or hired engineer was British or American and white, would this controversy be alive?

    Reply
    1. Mpho Munyai

      B

      Reply
  2. Clorane ndlovu

    Sometimes we can miss a point just with a lack of misunderstand these things not everyone is a scammer even if a fruit rot but the seeds inside can germinet to a new tree . yes we don’t deny some Zimbabeens are taking chances on the situation we have but not all of us. Give that guy a chance and see the results

    Reply

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