Cape Town – The Border Management Authority (BMA), a newly established government entity responsible for managing and securing all ports of entry, reportedly plans to conduct regular lifestyle audits on its guards to combat corruption at these entry points.
The BMA, formed in April of this year, has around 2 100 staff members, including 221 armed law enforcement officers.
Corruption is reported to be widespread among border guards, with instances of guards accepting bribes to turn a blind eye to or assist in illegal trafficking of people and goods into the country, BMA Commissioner Dr Mike Masiapato told a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday that, according to EWN.
Masiapato revealed that many corrupt officers have already been dismissed, and the authority is currently training an additional 400 border guards to bolster its law enforcement capabilities.
Watch: Dr Masiapato concluding remarks #BMA pic.twitter.com/R6gmo7EhwK
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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.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
