Cape Town – The newly established Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner, Dr Mike Masiapata, has pledged to eliminate corruption and enhance border security in South Africa.
The BMA became operational on April 1, 2023, and is set to be officially inaugurated by President Cyril Ramaphosa in Musina, Limpopo, next week.
Masiapata said that the BMA was created to safeguard the nation, replacing the previous multi-agency approach used for border management since 1994.
“Since 1994, South Africa has been using a multi-agency approach in its border management. It was therefore decided that a single agency was needed to manage the country’s borders,” Masiapata said.
This earlier system involved seven different departments and agencies with a physical presence at the borders.
[Read] The newly established Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner, Dr Mike Masiapata, has assured South Africans that the entity will get rid of corruption and ensure that the country’s borders are safe https://t.co/pet4Tpkmjw pic.twitter.com/H9wR7A3dj3
— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) September 28, 2023
Managing the country’s borders has been a persistent challenge, largely due to the old system’s shortcomings and corruption issues. The establishment of the BMA aims to address these challenges and enhance border security.
BMA officials will undergo rigorous vetting processes to ensure integrity and competence.
Since its inception, the BMA has already achieved successes, including intercepting stolen vehicles.
The BMA’s responsibilities encompass various aspects of border law enforcement, such as port health, immigration control, access control, biosecurity, food safety, land border infrastructure development, and border information and risk management.
The agency is designed to adapt to border-related challenges, safeguard South Africa’s borders, and fulfill national, regional, and global developmental responsibilities and human rights imperatives.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
