BMA’s tech tactics pay off: Drones catch 1,000+ border jumpers

Speaking at Beitbridge Border Post, Masiapato said drones have significantly improved border surveillance, enabling targeted interceptions, especially along vulnerable areas like river crossings.

He noted that without drones, patrolling would be costly and inefficient.

“Without drones, it becomes very much expensive and it becomes very much ineffective primarily because you are basically just patrolling. You patrol in the dark, you do not know whether you will get the people or you will meet or anything of that sort. So it becomes ineffective,” he said.

Commissioner Masiapato emphasises the importance of deploying drones and body-worn cameras and their role in enhancing the overall effectiveness of the BMA’s operations. pic.twitter.com/KJk162wjGT

— The Border Management Authority SA (@TheBMA_SA) April 21, 2025

“But now, with the introduction of the drones, the most powerful part of it is, we are able to monitor across the vulnerable segments. We are able to monitor in the port but also the corridor. Now, on the vulnerable segment, we are then able effectively, to see when the individuals are attempting to enter the country illegally.

“So in terms of here in Beitbridge, together with the issue of the river here, we are able to see people being put in the boat and basically crossing the river with those individuals… It is for that reason that we can talk about a thousand plus people that have been intercepted just in the past four days.”