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Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber holds a drone.
The Border Management Authority (BMA) will deploy four high-tech drones and 40 body-worn cameras at various border posts and ports of entry over the Easter period to address illegal crossings.
Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber made the announcement during a joint media briefing with the BMA in Pretoria on the authority’s operational plans for the Easter holidays. He said the technology had already been piloted during the December festive season and produced effective results.
Schreiber says the drones would be supported by five additional units through a partnership with the Department of Agriculture.
“In terms of the capabilities these drones launch within 15 sectors, any indication that they are required or if there’s a disturbance, they will be in the air immediately. They have thermal vision detection. So, you cannot hide behind the tree. You cannot hide behind the bush. It will pick up your body heat and it will see you moving and trying to enter this country illegally,” says Schreiber.
He adds: “It has a long-range zoom that can see up to 1.24 miles into the distance, and of course, it has a very advanced camera that is able to record and detect movement.”
The BMA says the technology forms part of broader efforts to strengthen border security and monitor movements at key points of entry during the high-traffic Easter period.
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