Tebogo Msimanga |
A 28-year-old male City of Johannesburg health worker, stationed at Parkhurst Clinic will appear in the Booysens Magistrates Court on Monday where he will be charged for fraud. He was arrested on Saturday night for allegedly selling fake Covid-19 negative test certificates to travellers for R500.
He was closely monitored for over a week and was arrested during a sting operation which was led by the City Executive Mayor, Councillor 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.
Cllr Matongo said, “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.”
