WATCH | BMA boosts festive season border security with extra personnel

Michael Masiapato

Cape Town – The Border Management Authority (BMA) has announced key measures to address the anticipated surge in border activity during the festive season from December 2024 to January 2025. These include:

  • Deploying 69 additional personnel to major ports of entry to handle increased traffic.
  • Extending operating hours at critical border posts to streamline the flow of people and goods.
  • Enhanced collaboration with Interpol and local law enforcement agencies to strengthen border security.

BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato emphasised efficient processes to manage over six million expected travellers, marking a return to pre-COVID-19 levels.

The BMA will also focus on guarding vulnerable border segments and intercepting illicit goods and illegal activities, he said.

“Our focus will be the delivery of integrated, effective and efficient processes at the ports of entry, where only legitimate people and goods will be allowed to enter and exit South Africa,” Masiapato told the media on Monday.

The BMA facilitates the legitimate movement of people and goods through 71 ports of entry, including 52 land ports, 10 international airports, and nine seaports.

The top 10 ports of entry facilitating the most people include key international airports and land ports to neighbouring countries.

Masiapato said that ports of entry will implement stricter biosecurity protocols to prevent the import of banned pesticides linked to food contamination.

Drone surveillance, supported by mobile reaction units, will bolster border monitoring in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, he said.

The BMA reinforced its commitment to national security while warning against illegal activities at border crossings.

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