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Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner Michael Masiapato briefs the media on their Easter operations, in Pretoria on April 28, 2025.
Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner Michael Masiapato says over 6 200 people were apprehended for attempting to illegally enter or exit the country.
Masiapato briefed the media today on the Easter operations that saw the implementation of drone technology and bodycams.
He says this is a 61% increase in apprehensions compared to the number intercepted in 2024.
Masiapato says the individuals were apprehended in 10 days during the Easter period.
He says, “We have been able to intercept and apprehend a total of 6 253 persons, who were attempting to either enter or exit South Africa illegally. Out of these 6 253, about 4 795 were undocumented, about 1 055 were undesirable.”
Masiapato says, “Even in this 2025 Easter period, a consistent pattern of top three nationalities which continues to undermine our immigration laws remains Zimbabweans at 2 019, followed by Basotho at 1 921 and Mozambicans.”
VIDEO | BMA briefing on Easter operations at ports of entry:
