This as the Commissioner is set to lead a high-level delegation to Thursday’s session.

“The meeting forms part of ongoing bilateral engagements between South Africa and the Kingdom of Eswatini aimed at strengthening cooperation and enhancing the management of ports of entry shared by the two countries,” said the BMA.

A key focus of the session will be the implementation protocol of the Joint Action Plan, which was signed at the end of 2024.

The Joint Action Plan commits all entities operating at the ports of entry between South Africa and Eswatini to develop immediate, medium- and long-term measures to improve the facilitation and management of goods, travellers and vehicles across the border.

The BMA and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) signed the historic agreement with Eswatini to collectively address challenges faced in the border environment.

Through this cooperation, South Africa and the Kingdom of Eswatini are working towards a shared vision of modern, secure, and well-managed borders.

“The Bilateral Joint Action Plan further includes commitments to harmonise policy and procedures, strengthen joint planning, and optimise the deployment of resources to support efficient movements and trade facilitation.

“This engagement builds on significant progress already achieved through similar Joint Action Plans signed with the Republic of Mozambique in 2023 and with the Kingdom of Lesotho earlier this year, both of which have already resulted in notable improvements in border coordination and trade facilitation,” the BMA said.

The South African Revenue Services (SARS) delegation will be led by Beyers Theron, the Director for Customs.

The BMA and SARS said they are commited to deepening intergovernmental cooperation and strengthening the efficiency of border operations across all ports of entry.

The post Border management to come under the spotlight at Steering Committee meeting appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

The cross-border operation, led by the Acting Provincial Commissioner of Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Zeph Mkhwanazi, culminated in the tracing of three suspects involved in the murder of Sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni.

Mtshweni was shot and killed by more than seven armed robbers during an armed robbery at a store in Schoemansdal, Mpumalanga, on Friday, 8 August 2025.

The first suspect was arrested on Saturday in South Africa by Mpumalanga police. Further investigations led the South African Police Service (SAPS) to Eswatini, where information was shared with the Royal Eswatini Police and the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force.

According to the Royal Eswatini Police, two suspects were traced to the Sishweleni region. When the suspects noticed police, they opened fire at them and the Eswatini Royal Police returned fire, fatally wounding the two suspects.

Further investigation led Eswatini police to Mantambe in Shiselweni, where the third suspect allegedly took his own life with a pistol before police officers could arrest him.

“On behalf of all the men and women in blue and the family of Sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni, we would like to thank the Royal Eswatini Police, led by Commissioner Masango, as well as the role played by the Umbutfo Defence Force, in assisting our Mpumalanga police to trace these police killers.

“We look forward to strengthening and deepening our cooperation on matters of law enforcement.

“The attacks and killing of our police officers is a concern and we request our communities to assist us in putting a stop to these killings. From 1 April 2025 to date, we have already lost six police officers. We cannot afford to lose more.

“We need as much boots on the ground as possible to prevent and combat crime,” said Masemola.

This breakthrough comes at a time when SAPS is still searching for Jabulani Moyo, who shot and killed two police detectives who were transporting him back to the Boksburg Correctional Services centre after appearing in court on an armed robbery case.

SAPS has made an offer of R150 000 to anyone who can share information on the whereabouts of Moyo.

The leadership of SAPS, spearheaded by Masemola, will this weekend attend the three funerals of the members who died in the line of duty this past week.

The details are as follows:

Warrant Officer Vuyisile Sintwa will be buried on Sunday, 17 August 2025 in Mandilore, Krugersdorp.

Sergeant Simon Masenye will be buried on Saturday, 16 August 2025 in Munsieville.

Sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni will be buried on Saturday, 16 August 2025 in Schoemansdal.

“The SAPS Commemoration Day is around the corner and will take place on Sunday, 7 September 2025, where 27 police officers, who lost their lives on duty, will be remembered,” SAPS said.

The post Three cop killers traced through cross-border operation appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

“South Africa has raised concerns with the Kingdom of Eswatini following confirmation by the acting spokesperson of the Government, Mrs Thabile Mdluli, that a group of dangerous criminals of various nationalities landed in Eswatini after being transported from the United States of America on a special flight with the potential of more criminals of this profile to follow,” the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said.

The department said that the arrival of this group of five men was accompanied by a notification from the United States Department of Homeland Security that this group, consisting of individuals from several countries, includes some who have been convicted of serious offenses and crimes and have been deported from the United States and have now arrived in the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Reports indicate that these criminals were deported to Eswatini after attempts to send the men from Laos, Cuba, Jamaica, Vietnam, and Yemen back to their own countries were rejected.

“DIRCO, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of South Africa, noted the aforementioned statement wherein Eswatini and the United States indicated that they would collaborate with the International Organisation for Migration to facilitate the transit of these inmates to their countries of origin.

“DIRCO also noted that the countries of origin of these deportees are unlikely to receive them,” the statement read.

While respecting the decision of the Government of Eswatini, South Africa expressed deep concern about “the profile of these individuals and the potential adverse impact on South Africa’s national security and immigration policy, given the geographical proximity between the two sisterly countries”.

The post SA raises concern over arrival of “dangerous criminals” to Eswatini appeared first on ProtectionWeb.