South Africa

The Border Management Authority (BMA) has successfully intercepted and prevented more than 281 000 people from unlawfully entering South Africa since the initial deployment of border guards last year. 

“It is in this celebratory mode of 30 years of democracy, coupled with the first anniversary of the BMA that we are presented with an opportunity to reflect on the benefits of moving away from a multi-agency approach to an integrated border management platform under a single command and control,” said Commissioner of the BMA, Dr Mike Masiapato.

The BMA celebrated its first anniversary on 1 April this year. 

“To this end, the BMA has taken full control of all immigration, health, agricultural and environmental functions across all ports of entry, with the departments retaining  responsibility for policy and legislation,” Masiapato said at a media briefing held on Sunday.

However, the access control function across the ports of entry remains co-implemented between the border guards and the South African Police Services (SAPS) due to the capacity challenges confronting the BMA.

Masiapato presented the report on the authority’d 2024 Easter plan, which ran for 10 days starting from 26 March to 4 April 2024.

During the Easter period, the BMA facilitated 1 136 250 travellers across South Africa’s 71 ports of entry. This was a 24% increase, with 222 391 more travellers facilitated and registered compared to last year.

Operations

The Commissioner revealed that 3 841 people attempting to enter South Africa illegally were intercepted.

He said that there was a decrease in the number of undocumented and unaccompanied minors arriving at ports of entry during the Easter period of 2024.

Although this was a positive development, the agency intercepted five children at the Beitbridge port of entry on 28 March 2024.

The children were handed over to the Department of Social Development and have since been returned to their home country.

He also shared about the incident involving a child at the Grobler’s Bridge port of entry where a woman was attempting to exit South Africa to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) via Botswana.

“The supposed ‘mother’ did not have a passport but was carrying an Emergency Travel Document, which was issued by the embassy of the DRC and the child was completely undocumented. They were both handed over to the colleagues of the Department of Social Development who processed and took them to the place of safety within Limpopo.”

In addition, eight penalties were issued to some bus companies found transporting illegal migrants in various ports of entry to the value of R270 000. 

“At this point, we would like to send a stern warning to all conveyers to desist from transporting illegal migrants in or out of South Africa.”

The border guards also managed to intercept and deny entry to about seven cargo consignments of meat worth about R9 294 551 which were destined to enter South Africa through the port of Cape Town due to non-compliance.  

They also seized about 748 kg of non-compliant regulated agricultural products at various ports of entry. 

In the period of 10 days, BMA health specialists screened about 91 743 travellers for various infectious and or communicable diseases and seized about 120 tablets, 57 658 mg of medications, 59 530 ml of cosmetics and about 50 insulin injections. 

The guards working with the SAPS arrested about 143 individuals for committing various crimes and transgressions within the ports of entry and the border law enforcement area. 

“The majority of these individuals served as facilitators of illegal activities around the ports of entry and were therefore charged for aiding and abetting. Interestingly, one individual was arrested at Lebombo port of entry to Mozambique while in possession of 13 passports attempting to bribe an immigration specialist with some banknotes which were placed in between the pages of the individual passports.” 

In addition, about R641 of dagga with  the value of R2 602 500 was seized and destroyed in both Grobler's Bridge port of entry to Botswana and Caledonspoort port of entry to Lesotho.

Another joint operation by officials of the SAPS, South African Reserve Service (SARS) and BMA included 217 master cases of counterfeit cigarettes with the value of R3 351 690 at the Lebombo port of entry from Mozambique en route to South Africa.

Other operations include the interception of 573 items of counterfeit alcohol, 272 pairs of counterfeit clothing and parts of a Toyota Hilux 4 x 4 worth R150 000.

“As the BMA, we remain committed to robustly confront the complex challenges associated with border management across all modalities, ranging from sea, land and air,” said the Commissioner. – SAnews.gov.za