JOHANNESBURG — A Zimbabwean national has been arrested in Johannesburg after police allegedly uncovered an operation producing fraudulent South African identity documents.

Police said they received information on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, that a man was allegedly recruiting people seeking South African Smart ID cards, as well as forged bank statements and payslips.

Following investigations, police carried out a raid in the Hillbrow policing precinct, seizing six South African Smart ID cards, 22 blank Smart ID cards, a laptop and a Smart ID card-printing machine.

The suspect was arrested and is expected to appear in court soon.

Police said investigations are continuing as they work to establish the full extent of the alleged document-forgery operation.

Authorities have also warned members of the public against producing, buying or using fraudulent identity documents and other forged paperwork, saying such activities are illegal.

The arrest comes amid ongoing efforts by South African authorities to crack down on identity-document fraud and other forms of organised document forgery.