By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Dr Michael Masiapato says over 1 million people crossed South African borders on Easter weekend, an 8% increase compared to the same period last year.
Masiapato held a media briefing to report and outline the movement statistics as well as interceptions at Ports of Entry during Easter period.
“We registered about 1 057 063 movements across our 71 ports of entry, which is an increase of 8% compared to the 2024 Easter period where we registered about 974 729.”
Masiapato said he considers the easter operation a success, crediting the hard work and dedication of all teams involved.
He added that those intercepted without documents were fingerprinted, declared undesirable for five years and deported to their countries, with the exception of facilitators.
He said drone technology and body-worn cameras have been a game-changer for border management work and enhancing border patrol operations.
“These increased interceptions of 61% can be attributed to the deployment of high-tech surveillance drones and body-worn cameras. In addition to the 6 253, about 112 individuals were arrested at the ports of entry and or border law enforcement area for various reasons and were handed over to members of the Saps for further processing.”
Masiapato said during this Easter period, border guards also successfully intercepted four motor vehicles and one motorcycle which were attempting to be smuggled out of the country.
“A 22-seater minibus and a sedan passenger vehicle were impounded at Beit Bridge port of entry after the vehicles were used for aiding and abetting illegal migration.”
Thirty-four boxes of fake cigarettes were intercepted, he said, as they were being smuggled into South Africa by smugglers using a number of routes found close to the ports of entry at Lebombo and Beit Bridge.
Over a billion rands worth of illegal cigarettes have been seized at different ports of entry so far, according to Masiapato.
In relation to anti-corruption issues, he reported that two immigration officers were detained at Beit Bridge for working with intermediaries who sought to permit the illegal entry of undocumented people.
According to Masiapato, BMA officials fined 38 non-compliant conveyors — mostly buses and airlines — a total of R947 300 during the Easter period.