Three home affairs officials arrested on 39 counts of fraud appeared in the Durban magistrate's court on Monday, the department of home affairs said. Departmental spokesman Mantshele wa ga Tau said all three accused were denied bail. They would reappear in court on January 21.

Two senior male immigration officials were arrested on Friday in Mahamaba in Mpumalanga and one female official was arrested in Pretoria, said Home Affairs Director-General Mavuso Msimang on Saturday. "The officials were arrested following a joint operation by the department's counter-corruption and security unit, the National Immigration Branch (NIB) and the Durban organised crime police." The arrests follow that of Durban-based "ID fraudster" M R Christy on Thursday.

"We commit to a relentless pursuit of all corrupt elements within and outside the organisation. "We will continue to do this in the new year and going forward," said Msimang. The officials were arrested on 39 counts of fraud related to the illegal issuing of IDs, passports, birth certificates and assisting illegal foreigners to acquire temporary residence permits.

Msimang urged home affairs officials and members of the public to report any suspected acts of corruption by calling the National Anti-Corruption hotline on 0800701701.

On Monday, wa ga Tau said the arrested were all brought to Durban because that was where most of their alleged crimes were committed. They apparently assisted Christy.