Zimbabwean CFO Denied Bail Over Fraudulent South African Permanent Residence Permit

A Zimbabwean national accused of fraudulently obtaining a South African permanent residence permit has been denied bail.

Kudakwashe Mpofu, 33, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the North West Development Corporation, was arrested on January 28, 2025, by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigations (the Hawks).

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mpofu faces a fraud charge and appeared before the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court in the North West province.

NPA spokesperson Sivenathi Gunya explained that in March 2021, the North West Development Corporation advertised an Asset Manager position at its head office in Mafikeng. Mpofu applied for the role, submitting various documents, including a permanent residence permit, which authorities now allege to be fraudulent. He was successfully appointed to the position on May 1, 2021.

In June 2023, Mpofu was promoted to Chief Financial Officer of the corporation. However, investigations later revealed that his permanent residence permit was never issued by the Department of Home Affairs.

The court ruled against granting him bail, citing that Mpofu is in South Africa illegally and poses a flight risk. The State also presented an affidavit from a Home Affairs official confirming the permit’s fraudulent nature.

Mpofu will remain in custody and is scheduled to appear before the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Mmabatho on March 19, 2025.