BMA predicts over six million crossings at SA borders this festive season

The Border Management Authority (BMA) anticipates processing more than six million people during this festive season.

On Monday, the BMA unveiled its festive season plan, spanning from December 2024 to January 2025, aimed at managing increased border activities.

BMA OUTLINES PLANS FOR FESTIVE SEASON

BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato said South Africa faces complex border-related challenges, including illegal immigration, cross-border crimes, and smuggling of illicit goods.

Therefore, key interventions this festive season include extending operating hours at major ports of entry over the festive season, deploying 69 additional personnel, and collaborating with Interpol and local law enforcement authorities. 

Masiapato said their 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.

“We, therefore, want to warn all travellers to desist from committing any act of criminality around the ports of entry and at the border law enforcement areas, as they will be detected, arrested, and then deported,” Masiapato told the media.

WHICH BORDERS ARE THE BUSIEST?

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

The top 10 ports of entry that facilitate the most people include key international airports and land ports in neighbouring countries.

These include the:

• OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng,
• Beitbridge land port to Zimbabwe,
• Lebombo land port to Mozambique,
• Caledonspoort, Ficksburg and Maseru Bridge land ports to Lesotho,
• Cape Town International Airport in the Western Cape,
• Oshoek land port to Eswatini,
• Kopfontein and Groblers’ Bridge land port to Botswana.