BMA meets Eswatini counterparts to boost border security

Commissioner and CEO of Border Management Authority Dr Michael Masiapato led a high level delegation from the Authority to co-chair the Eswatini-South Africa Steering Committee Meeting

The Border Management Authority (BMA) and its counterparts in the Kingdom of Eswatini have expressed confidence in their efforts to address border crimes between the two countries.

Recently, there have been concerns regarding the illegal movement of people and goods across ports of entry between South Africa and Eswatini.

To address these issues, border management officials from both countries held a bilateral meeting in Badplass, Mpumalanga. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss ongoing efforts to improve the management of the shared ports of entry. .

Top officials engaged in high-level discussions to strengthen cooperation and improve the management of their shared ports of entry.

This meeting took place nearly a year after both countries signed a Joint Action Plan aimed at addressing issues at the ports. South Africa shares approximately 11 borders with Eswatini, and there are significant concerns regarding illegal activities occurring at these borders.

These activities include the illegal movement of people, goods, and drugs, particularly marijuana.

BMA Commissioner Dr Mike Masiapato, who led the South African delegation during these discussions, stated that they are seeking funding to acquire additional devices to enhance border security.

“We have made a proposal or some application into the criminal asset recovery account, and we do hope that we might get some bit of allocation. The intention thereof is to increase our capacity, especially around the issue of drones. You did mention the drones, but we actually only have four. Two of those are daylight patrols and the other two of those are night patrols. And if you look at our ports, you look at the vulnerable segments across our border line for instance, is very much wide,” Masiapato says.

Today, 02 October 2025, The Commissioner and CEO of Border Management Authority(BMA), Dr Michael Masiapato led a high level delegation from the Authority to co-chair the Eswatini-South Africa Steering Committee Meeting on Border Management. pic.twitter.com/cCNS6OGor9

— The Border Management Authority SA (@TheBMA_SA) October 2, 2025

Meanwhile, officials from both countries have expressed concern over the increasing number of criminals committing offences and fleeing to another country.

This follows a recent incident involving three suspects in the murder of Sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni, who fled to Eswatini. The Chief Immigration Officer in Eswatini, Mthokozisi Dlamini says they are diligently enhancing their border security measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.

“This is a problem that is there on the ground, but a lot is being done. One can confirm that the world has become a village, and we are singing from the same hymn in so far as curbing criminal activities is concerned. Maybe one cannot divulge the other technical strategies that we are working on to address that challenge. But certainly, a lot is being done,” Dlamini elaborates.

Eswatini’s Commissioner for Customs and Excise, Gugu Mahlinza, expressed appreciation for the work that has been done by both countries through this Joint Action Plan collaboration.

“The Bilateral Governance Structures are essential to managing the technical implementation of collaborative trade facilitation arrangements between our countries. Our collaborative intiatives are particularly important at the Oshoek-Ngwenya border post, where our governments… pic.twitter.com/I7IgqNrASS

— The Border Management Authority SA (@TheBMA_SA) October 2, 2025