Buying days in South Africa: Zimbabwean man found with 582 cash-stuffed passports remanded in jail
Edward Chitaizvi, found with 582 passports and cash hidden in a bakkie, has been remanded in custody following his court appearance.
Image: SAPS
The 43-year-old Zimbabwean national arrested after police found 582 passports and more than R147,000 in cash hidden in a bakkie has appeared before a court in Mpumalanga, where he was remanded in custody.
Provincial police spokesperson, Captain Mpho Nonyane-Mpe said Edward Chitaizvi briefly appeared before the Waterval Boven Periodical Court, where he was remanded behind bars while authorities continue with verification processes linked to the investigation.
"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," she said in an update.
Recent cases have highlighted how corrupt border officials have been accused of charging foreign nationals to stamp their passports. Last year, IOL reported that an immigration officer in Mpumalanga appeared in court after allegedly stamping a Tanzanian national’s expired passport in exchange for a R1,000 bribe.
IOL has also previously covered multiple incidents in which Home Affairs or border control officials were arrested for allegedly selling illegal passport stamps and facilitating fraudulent entries and exits at various ports of entry.
On Wednesday, Nonyane-Mpe, said a multi-disciplinary team — comprising 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 about 1 pm, after acting on information received.
During a search of the vehicle, officers uncovered hundreds of passports — some containing cash — hidden in a concealed compartment. They also found about R20,000 wrapped in a black plastic bag, bringing the total seized cash to roughly R147,300.
“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,” said Nonyane-Mpe.
Zimbabwean passports lined with money were part of the consignment of hundreds of passports seized by the SAPS in Mpumalanga.
Image: SAPS
The bakkie was confiscated for further investigation.
Meanwhile, acting provincial commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, welcomed the arrest and warned that additional arrests may follow.
“We are following up this matter and will not leave any stone unturned. At this stage, the possibility of more arrests cannot be ruled out. We will ensure that those who are involved are brought to book,” he said.
Edward Chitaizvi
Image: SAPS
Last year, IOL reported that an operation conducted by the Border Management Authority (BMA) led to the arrest of a man who was carrying 34 passports and a significant amount of money in cash.
BMA spokesperson Mmemme Mogotsi said border guards discovered the passports during a routine inspection. “Of these 34, 32 belonged to Mozambican nationals, and two were identified as belonging to Angolan nationals,” she said.
A case of possession of suspected stolen property was opened, and investigations into the origins of those passports are ongoing.
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