The Border Management Authority (BMA) has revealed a budgetary shortfall of R4.353 billion over the medium-term period, according to Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber.
The Minister revealed the shortfall in a reply to a question posed by Mr Adriaan Roos, Member of Parliament for the Democratic Alliance (DA). Minister Schreiber noted the shortfall was the result of the BMA not having received the full requested funding from National Treasury. “Secondly, the transferring Departments transferred an accurate budget for Compensation of Employees (CoE) and did not transfer the full budget for goods and services.”
The breakdown for the budget shortfall is as follows:
| Details of funds | Year one
R’000 |
Year Two
R’000 |
Year Three
R’000 |
Total
R’000 |
| Human Resource | R505 300 | R1 060 000 | R1 680 000 | R3 245 300 |
| Information Communication and Technology | R494 000 (once off)
R83 400 (Support and Maintenance) |
R87 570 (Support and Maintenance) | R92 820 (Support and Maintenance) | R757 790 |
| Tools and Trade | R150 000 | R200 000 | R0 | R350 000 |
| Total | R4 353 090 | |||
The Minister additionally revealed the areas affected by the underfunding cuts are Human Resources, Information Communications Technology (ICT) and tools of trade.
The total approved structure for the BMA is 11 115 personnel, however as of 30 June 2024, 2 566 positions were filled, leaving the number of vacant positions at 8 549. Within the medium-term period, the BMA is required to fill 3 207 positions to ensure alignment with the total approved organisational structure. According to the approved organisational structure, the area for urgent capacitation is the Ports of entry. This includes critical support positions, which the Minister noted are critical for governance purposes.
The Minister emphasised the growing importance played by technology in enhancing border security. “Statistics show that many countries are investing in technologies that aim to streamline and bring efficiency in the entry and exit processes whilst balancing that with national security,” stated the Minister’s reply.
Crucial technologies which could serve as force multipliers for border security include satellite surveillance systems, and drones, which can detect migrants attempting to illegally cross borders. These investments are an indication that countries acknowledge that technology lies at the centre of resolving border control challenges.
The Minister acknowledged that the BMA aims to align with this global direction and understands it must invest into technology to enable it to successfully execute its mandate. Technology can further assist in automating processes and increase efficiencies within the Ports of Entry. “It is eminent that the main deterrent in the investment on ICT infrastructure/ technologies for BMA is current funding constraints,” stated the Minister, adding there “is therefore a critical need for the BMA to invest in ICT infrastructure to enable efficient delivery on its mandate.”
To augment the BMA’s current financial constraints, the Minister revealed the BMA has applied for Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA) funding from the Department of Constitutional Development to assist in the procurement of some critical tools of trade. An application requesting funding totalling R500 million was made, however only R150 million was approved.
“The requested funds were to be used for the procurement of Specialised Capital equipment,” said the Minister, adding these technologies would allow operational staff to adequately render their mandate, “which includes facilitating the movement of people and goods, effectively intercept the illicit flow of goods and illegal movement of people through our ports and vulnerable segments of the borderlines.”
These tools of trade include but are not limited to; patrol vehicles, firearms and ammunition, communication devices, body-worn cameras, surveillance equipment, forensic technology, motion sensors, drive-through vehicle/truck scanner, etc.
