In a significant move aimed at bolstering security during the upcoming festive season, Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato, of the Border Management Authority (BMA), has announced the deployment of an additional 69 personnel to the busiest ports of entry across South Africa.
To handle the increased border activity, Masiapato announced the agency’s festive season strategy, which will run from December 2024 to January 2025.
He said the initiative comes as part of a comprehensive festive season campaign designed to minimise cross-border crime and enhance the efficiency of service delivery at these critical checkpoints.
The increase in manpower is designed to assist existing staff in managing the anticipated influx of travellers, with over six million people expected to cross borders, marking a return to pre-Covid-19 levels of movement.
Masiapato articulated the BMA’s commitment to ensuring secure and streamlined access for legitimate travellers and goods, stating: “Our focus will be the delivery of integrated, effective, and efficient processes at the ports of entry, where only legitimate people and goods will be allowed to enter and exit South Africa.”
This festive season will see key interventions including extended operating hours at major ports and enhanced collaboration with Interpol and local law enforcement authorities.
Masiapato emphasised the importance of multi-jurisdictional cooperation, revealing that extensive discussions had taken place with neighbouring countries — Lesotho, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, eSwatini, and Botswana — to coordinate operations and adjust port hours accordingly.
The BMA has also made strides in capacity-building by planning the deployment of an additional 400 junior border guards by June 2024, which adds to the previously introduced 200 border guards.
This enhances the operational capacity of the BMA, providing vital resources needed to strengthen security and control at ports of entry.
As part of the efforts to combat cross-border crime, Masiapato reiterated the agency's vigilance against illegal activities, including the interception of illicit goods like narcotics and stolen vehicles.
“We are intensifying our measures to detect and seize prohibited items, ensuring that ports of entry and vulnerable segments of the borderline are adequately guarded,” he said.
In conjunction with “Operation Vala Umgodi”, the BMA’s action against illegal mining activities will remain a priority, maintaining readiness to intercept deported illegal miners attempting to re-enter South Africa.
With security measures ramped up, Masiapato warned travellers against engaging in any illicit activities at ports of entry.
“We want to put all travellers on notice — any act of criminality around the ports of entry will be detected, resulting in arrest and deportation,” he stressed.
The Star