Easter crackdown: More than1 000 migrants stopped at Beitbridge

During the Easter holiday, the Border Management Authority (BMA) intercepted over 1 000 undocumented migrants trying to cross into South Africa at the Beitbridge border post.

Drone Surveillance Boosts Border Patrols

BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato told Eyewitness News that officials used newly deployed high-tech drones to monitor illegal border activity and make the arrests.

Earlier this month, the BMA, in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs, introduced drones as part of a strategy to enhance border security.

“In just the past four days, we intercepted over 1 000 people thanks to these drones,” said Masiapato.

“Policing borders without this technology has always been a costly task. Now, we’re able to act more effectively and with greater precision.”

Targeting River Crossings Along the Limpopo

Masiapato explained that drones monitor the Limpopo River area, a hotspot for illegal crossings between Zimbabwe and South Africa.

He added that drone operators detect when people board makeshift boats to cross the river and immediately send the coordinates to BMA ground teams.

“What we do is allow them to come through, and as they cross. We send the coordinates to our border guards, who can then intercept them directly,” he said.

Focus on Smuggling Facilitators

The BMA has also shifted its focus toward arresting individuals who facilitate illegal crossings.

Masiapato said identifying and prosecuting these facilitators is key to disrupting smuggling networks operating along South Africa’s borders.

Modernising Border Security

The drone programme forms part of a broader strategy to modernise border security and reduce illegal migration.

Authorities believe these targeted, tech-assisted operations are crucial to managing South Africa’s porous borders more effectively.