Woman caught in immigration scandal, teaches illegal foreigners how to evade arrest by posing as indigene

Editor

A Zimbabwean woman known by the nickname “Zai Zai” has come under scrutiny after reports surfaced that she has been coaching undocumented foreign nationals on how to pose as South African citizens in order to avoid deportation.

Sources close to the matter revealed that the woman, believed to be in her early 30s and residing in the inner-city suburb of Hillbrow, has built a reputation among illegal immigrants as a self-proclaimed “immigration strategist.” Her tactics allegedly include teaching people how to mimic South African accents, adopt local slang, and even memorize township names to appear more convincing to law enforcement officers during immigration raids.

“She tells them to claim they were born in Limpopo or the Eastern Cape and not to panic when stopped by police,” said a witness who spoke on condition of anonymity. “She even coaches them on which local schools to mention and how to act like they’ve lived here their whole life.”

It is alleged that Zai Zai charges a fee for her services, offering different “packages” depending on the level of training required. Some clients are reportedly advised on how to obtain fraudulent South African ID documents through unofficial channels.

Authorities are reportedly investigating the claims. The Department of Home Affairs has condemned the alleged conduct, warning that such actions not only undermine the country’s immigration laws but also put genuine asylum seekers at risk.

“Pretending to be a citizen is a serious offence,” said Home Affairs spokesperson Siya Mthethwa. “We are intensifying our crackdown on illegal immigration and fraudulent documentation. Anyone caught misleading authorities will face the full might of the law.”

South Africa has seen growing tension around undocumented migration, with pressure mounting on the government to enforce stricter immigration controls. Civil society groups have also called for humane but firm interventions to prevent abuse of the system.

As of now, no arrests have been made, but investigations are ongoing