BMA beefs up security at ports of entry ahead of festive season

The Border Management Authority (BMA) says it will work with other law enforcement agencies such as the South African Police Service (SAPS), the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) customs officials, to ensure that all ports of entries are properly managed.

This as millions of people will be coming in and out of South Africa.

Border Management Authority Commissioner, Dr Michael Masiapato, briefed members of the media in Pretoria, about their festive season plans.

Masiapato says they are ready to secure all 72 ports of entry.

This includes increasing personnel and remote technical support at all 53 land borders, eleven international airports and eight sea ports.

Formed a year ago, the BMA is tasked with a difficult job of protecting the South African borders from illegal immigrants and the movement of illicit goods, such as illegal cigarettes and stolen cars.

But Masiapato is confident that they have prepared enough for the festive season.

“Our focus will be the delivery of an integrated, effective and efficient processes in the ports of entry, where only legitimate persons and goods will be allowed to enter and exit South Africa. To achieve this, ports of entry and the vulnerable segments of the borderline will be adequately guarded to intercept any transgressors,” explains Masiapato.

Hundreds of thousands of people will be leaving and coming into South Africa and most will be doing it by road.

The Beit Bridge and the Lebombo Border Posts are said to be the most notorious and troublesome.

Masiapato says they have put their focus on these ports of entry and that they will also deploy technology to assist them manage the fences.

“We have forged a partnership with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development (DLRRD). They will be deploying their drones to assist us with enhancing a level of border security, especially in problematic and vulnerable segments,” adds Masiapato.

Milkor Communications Director Daniel du Plessis says it’s good that the BMA is co-operating with other government entities.

“Specifically, border security is your first line of defense. So, getting access and control of people that enter into this country, legally and illegally is an important fact, to know who is in the country and the operation that it entails,” says du Plessis.

The BMA says it will continue monitoring the Lebombo Border Post following protests and instability in Mozambique.