By Sithandiwe Velaphi.
OR Tambo International Airport is experiencing long queues due to technical challenges faced by the Border Management Authority’s (BMA) passport control processing system.
In a statement on Monday, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) said the “unresponsiveness” of the BMA’s biometric movement control system was causing extended queues.
BMA technicians were working to resolve the issue.
“While ACSA has sufficient personnel on hand to manage the situation, the delays are a direct result of the system failure.
“To ensure continued processing, the BMA has transitioned to manual procedures, which may result in delays. We strongly advise passengers to arrive early,” added ACSA.
“In the interim, ACSA has mobilised additional personnel to assist with passenger movement and is working closely with the BMA to expedite passenger processing.
“We advise passengers to allow for extra time when travelling to the airport to ensure a smooth experience during this period of disruption.
“We apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. We will provide updates as the situation evolves,” it said.