UNSUSPECTING residents would flock to the internet cafe to make copies of their personal documents.
But little did they know that duplicate copies would be kept and forged for sale.
This was happening at an internet cafe in Tsakane, Ekurhuleni.
Besides forged documents, the internet cafe owner was bust with other fraudulent documents such as birth certificates, doctor's notes, as well as temporary asylum seeker papers.
The 41-year-old Zimbabwean man was arrested by Metro cops on Tuesday, 11 July.
Birth certificates were allegedly sold at no less than R1 000.
"The suspect alleged that he was the middleman in selling these documents and that he has never met the person who produces the documents, only speaks to his supplier over the phone, stating that he only meets the applicants," Lieutenant-Colonel Kelebogile Thepa.
Thepa said the suspect further explained that customers would come and make copies of their medical certificates, and he would keep a few copies for himself.
These fraudulent documents were found at an internet cafe in Tsakane.
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"In addition, fraudulent birth certificates belonging to him and his brother were also found on the premises, and the suspect alleges he was saving money so he can buy a fraudulent South African identity document for R12 000."
Thepa said the suspect was arrested and detained for possession of fraudulent documents at Tsakane Police Station, and will appear in the Tsakane Magistrates Court this week.
She said the suspect faces further charges under the Immigration Act (Act 13 of 2002), adding that investigations are ongoing to root out all the role players involved.
Residents said they were shocked to see police arrest the internet cafe owner.
"But it's scary that we take our documents to be photocopied, only to find that they are later forged. Who do were trust then?," said a resident who once made photocopies of his documents at the internet cafe.
Another resident said: "That's why I don't trust local internet cafes."