Cape Town – The Border Management Authority (BMA) has reported significant progress in monitoring the movement of illegal migrants during the festive season.
With 71 ports of entry, including land, international airports, and seaports, the BMA said it facilitated the legitimate movement of around 5,096,288 travellers between December 6, 2023, and January 18, 2024.
BMA commissioner Dr Mike Masiapato said the festive season was a “remarkable time where a noticeable increase in the movement of persons and goods entering and exiting South Africa was experienced”.
[WATCH] BMA Commissioner Mike Masiapato says over 15 000 people were caught trying to enter the country illegally during the festive season. “After intercepting them, we fingerprinted them, declared them undesirable, and banned them from entering SA for five years.” #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/q9yH9VNwyx
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) January 28, 2024
Masiapato said this on Sunday while giving a report-back on the BMA festive-season border operations.
He said that during the 43-day implementation plan, the BMA identified 15,924 undocumented individuals, 6,455 undesirables, and 4,626 inadmissibles, leading to the deportation of 27,005 individuals attempting to enter South Africa illegally.
[Photos] The Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Dr Mike Masiapato accompanied by Deputy Commissioners addressing members of media at a briefing to provide a report back on the outline of the Festive Season border operations. pic.twitter.com/GU6DfnoPGG
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) January 28, 2024
Despite ongoing challenges with porous borders, the BMA’s efforts during the festive season were aimed at enhancing border security and managing the influx of people and goods, Masiapato said.
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Picture; X/@GovernmentZA
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
