The (28) male will appear in the Booysens Magistrates Court on Monday where he will be charged for fraud.
He was closely monitored for over a week and was arrested during a sting operation which was led by the City’s Mayor, Jolidee Matongo working with the City’s Group Forensic and Investigation Service (GFIS) department and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD).
It is alleged that the suspect sells the fake Covid-19 negative test certificates to people wishing to travel to other countries without conducting the actual test and taking blood samples.
All you need to do is send him your identity number, after a day or two you will receive a message from the laboratory indicating that you tested negative for Covid-19. He will then give you the certificate which he charges R500.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the suspect is not working alone. More suspects are expected to be arrested as the investigation is ongoing.
The Mayor said, “It’s quite unfortunate, we don’t need such people in our system. We would like to encourage our staff not to engage in such corrupt activities because it compromises the whole country. Imagine someone who has contracted Covid and they are given a certificate which says they are negative. That person will infect many people and some may succumb to the virus,”
“We hope that law enforcement agencies will send the suspect to prison for a long time, we need to set an example and send a strong message to people who are doing this. If the laws of this country have to be changed to deal with such let us do that,” he added.
“Officials who are found to be stealing from the City or engaged in corrupt activities will be dealt with in a harshest way possible,” says Lucky Sindane, spokesperson for GFIS.
The City has zero tolerance for fraud and corruption, said Sindane.
The City would like to encourage people to report any fraud and corruption activities through 24hour tipoff hotline 0800 002 587.
