Port-Elizabeth - The Department of Home Affairs has welcomed the conviction and sentence to six years of a former financial officer of the department, Selby Skosana, today, Thursday, 30 January 2014, in the Port-Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court.

Skosana was arrested in a sting operation by a joint team of Home Affairs and Hawks officers in August 2013 for fraudulent subsistence and travel allowance (S&T) claims against the state in excess of R220 000 (two hundred and twenty thousand rand). Skosana subsequently pleaded guilty to all charges in the same court in December 2013.

The Commercial Crimes Court found him guilty today, Thursday, 30 January, and sentenced him to six years imprisonment suspended for two years. Accordingly, Skosana began serving four years imprisonment today. Following this judgment the Asset Forfeiture Unit in collaboration with Home Affairs and Hawks is set to recover his assets equal to the amount he defrauded the state.

In this regard, Skosana has already repaid the state a total of R45 000 (forty five thousand rand) as part payment of the R220 000 he defrauded the state.

The sentence and conviction of Skosana communicates an all important message that government will leave no stone unturned to ensure those who benefit from the fruits of crime and corruption do indeed face the full might of the law.

The department working together with other law enforcement agencies will not rest until the scourge of crime and corruption is dealt a massive and decisive blow. Crime and corruption undermine government efforts to help create a better life for all South Africans while denying basic services to the poorest of the poor.

Issued by Department of Home Affairs, 909 Arcadia Street, Pretoria, 30 January 2014

Contact: David Hlabane 071 527 9463