Briefing the media on festive season law enforcement plans for 2025/26, Masiapato said BMA immigration officers processed 9 283 658 travellers in the second quarter of the current financial year – a 23% jump from the 7 576 650 movements recorded in the same period last year.

He said the uptick in movements coincides with strengthened border enforcement supported by surveillance technology, especially drones. During the quarter, 8 135 apprehensions were recorded across ports of entry and vulnerable segments: 4 092 undocumented individuals, 2 061 inadmissible travellers, and 1 982 undesirables.

“The majority of the intercepted foreign nationals were Basotho, followed by Mozambicans, Zimbabweans and Swati nationals, reflecting a consistent long-standing migration pattern within the sub-region,” Masiapato said.

Masiapato added that since the Border Guards were first deployed in July 2022, officers have stopped about 505 065 individuals from entering the country illegally.

Interceptions during the quarter also included 15 high-powered suspected stolen vehicles, believed to have been targeted by criminal syndicates for smuggling out of South Africa. The South African Police Service (SAPS) has taken over further processing.

“The incremental figure stands at about 349 vehicles since the deployment of the first contingent in July 2022,” Masiapato said.

BMA officers also seized 1 700 kg of counterfeit clothing and footwear valued at R1.28 million, bringing the cumulative value of counterfeit goods intercepted since July 2022 to about R220 million.

Additional seizures included half a kilogram of crystal meth, 240 grams of heroin, illicit cigarettes valued at R827 500, and 40 fraudulent travel documents confiscated mainly at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) and Vioolsdrift.

Port health operations screened 172 858 travellers, with 73 refused entry for failing to present valid yellow fever vaccination certificates. Officials processed 997 mortal remains — 964 exports and 33 imports — and returned 25 due to incomplete documentation.

Masiapato said port health teams also handled 43 729 health-related consignments, while intercepting and destroying 5 000 units of illicit birth control pills and 117 medical test kits, including skin lightening creams.

“In this regard, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has warned that many of these products contain harmful and illegal ingredients, including high concentrations of mercury, hydroquinone and tropical steroids, which pose serious health risks,” he said.

Health teams tested 969 travellers for malaria, confirming 57 positive cases, who were transferred to medical facilities. In the agricultural stream, 39 316 consignments were processed.

Boosting port security

Masiapato also announced a key operational development. The BMA, in partnership with Transnet National Ports Authority, has secured permanent operational space for Coastal Guards at the ports of Mossel Bay, Gqeberha, Richards Bay and East London.

“This is a critical development towards establishing BMA’s full-time presence in these important seaports,” he said.

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Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato said the border environment had been “strategically neglected” and outlined five priorities set by the Minister of Home Affairs, including adopting new digital tools, redesigning port processes, improving customer experience, expanding data analytics and shifting organisational culture.

Masiapato reported early operational gains, including cutting truck delays from nine hours to about twenty minutes at the N17 corridor.

Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber highlighted progress on the Electronic Travel Authorisation system, which has already approved over 10,000 applications using AI-based passport and biometric verification.

Dedicated ETA lanes are now active at OR Tambo and Cape Town airports. Schreiber argued that this digital-first approach is key to tackling illegal immigration and reducing fraud.

Schreiber also pushed the One-Stop Border Post Bill, saying integrated border posts with neighbouring states could significantly cut waiting times and spur regional trade.

While acknowledging funding constraints and limited enforcement capacity, Schreiber said technology such as AI-enabled drones had already boosted interception of illegal crossings.

Both leaders stressed that modernisation, collaboration and data-driven policing are reshaping South Africa’s border system, with further reforms expected in 2026.

Written by The Daily Friend and republished with permission. The original article can be found here.

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The awareness campaign under the banner of the Border Management and Immigration Anti-corruption Forum (BMIACF) was on show for the first time at the Beitbridge port of entry (PoE) on 11 November. It, as per a BMA statement, sent out a strong message to officials working at the border those engaged in corruption will face the full might of the law.

Convicted offenders shared “their regrettable experiences” with BMA personnel in an effort to discourage corrupt activities before finding themselves in correctional facilities. The statement has it further while offenders were treated with dignity “incarceration remains a difficult experience” because freedoms taken for granted disappear.

“Prison is very painful. My advice to all public officials is if you are already engaged in corruption, it is better for you to stop now; for your sake and that of your family,” according to an incarcerated offender quoted in the statement who attended the awareness campaign.

Similar sentiments were echoed by another behind bars official. Currently serving a 15-year sentence she is quoted as saying: “I was working in law enforcement but due to acts of corruption, now I find myself wearing the corrections uniform. I have grandchildren who come to visit me in custody and they wonder why I am not returning home. I have to come up with excuses each time they come to visit me and make up stories about where I am. It’s only a matter of time before they understand what is going on. I have lost friendships and my job”.

BMA Commissioner and Chief Executive, Dr Michael Masiapato, said the BMIACF enables integrated border law enforcement and relevant stakeholders to have conversations about the consequences of corruption.

“Beitbridge is one of our biggest and busiest ports, which is also an entry into the rest of the continent. It is important that we have this awareness campaign here so officials do not find themselves involved in wrongdoing,” the statement has him saying. It is against this background a preventative approach against corruption is crucial to enable would-be perpetrators to understand where their actions could lead to

The BMIACF, chaired by Special Investigations Unit (SIU) Head, Advocate Andy Mothibi, will leave no stone unturned in its endeavours to deal decisively with corruption in the border management and immigration environment. He is on record as saying corruption undermines the public’s trust in government institutions.

Since establishment of the forum, investigations have been instituted to ensure consequence management against corruption becomes the order of the day. “Those who commit corruption are brazen and daring. The BMIACF is fit-for-purpose to attend to such individuals without fear or prejudice,” he said.

The BMIACF, in addition to the BMA and SIU, has the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigations (DPCI) – the Hawks – onboard with civil society organisations.

Formed in March the forum is a platform for collaboration among key law enforcement organisations, civil society and business to address systemic corruption and illicit activities in the sector. The forum, according to the BMA statement, highlights the South African government’s “all of government” approach to rooting out corruption through multi-agency collaboration sharing data to effectively stamp out fraud and corruption.

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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.

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On Tuesday night, during a routine intelligence-driven operation, 25 travellers were intercepted and deported by the BMA Immigration officials at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), who were trying to enter South Africa illegally.

Of those,13 Bangladeshis and three Pakistanis were found to be in possession of fake visitors’ visas. One Bangladeshi, a Nigerian, three Pakistanis and four Ghanaians failed to meet the relevant entry requirements on arrival.

These travellers were intercepted on flights from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Ghana and Nigeria, and they were deported back in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations.

The ICAO provides global standards for air transport operations and highlights that a person who has entered a state illegally or denied entry shall be returned to their country of origin by the respective airlines that brought them to South Africa and shall bear the costs of that particular travel.

ORTIA has been a target, with various travellers attempting to enter the country illegally.

This past Sunday, five Bangladeshis and five Ethiopians were intercepted in collaboration with the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA).

Masiapato commended the operations by BMA officials at ORTIA, saying that as the biggest and busiest airport in Africa, detection systems need to continue to be advanced.

“The outstanding efforts of our dedicated BMA immigration officers in successfully intercepting these travellers is commendable. With the BMA just one year in operation, this work exemplifies our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our borders and maintaining the integrity of our immigration laws.

“The diligence and professionalism displayed by our team have prevented potential security threats and upheld the rule of law.

“We will continue to enhance our capabilities and escalate cooperation with ACSA security as well as collaborate with international partners to address and combat such illicit activities effectively,” Masiapato said.

ACSA Regional General Manager Jabulani Khambule has thanked and congratulated the BMA on these latest interceptions of illegal travellers, praising officials for their hard work and dedication to protecting South Africa’s ports of entry.

“These latest successful interceptions of illegal travellers by the BMA demonstrates the importance of our multi-agency safety and security approach throughout our environment to enhance airport and aviation security in general.

“The aviation security model that is vertically and horizontally integrated with various law enforcement authorities is important to root out criminality across our airports,” said Khambule.

As the third law enforcement authority responsible for five key functional areas of immigration, port health, environmental and agricultural biosecurity, including access control and the general law enforcement at the ports of entry and border law enforcement areas, the BMA has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to criminal or unlawful behaviour at all ports of entry.

The BMA says it will continue to intensify its operations with the deployment of an additional 400 Junior Border Guards, who have resumed duty on the 1st of June 2024 at various ports.

Travellers are warned to avoid attempting to enter South Africa illegally, as they will be caught by BMA officials.

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