BMA battles illegal crossings as thousands intercepted at SA borders
The Border Management Authority (BMA) intercepted 4 229 people who tried to enter South Africa illegally between April 1 and July 31 as it stepped up…
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) intercepted 4 229 people who tried to enter South Africa illegally between April 1 and July 31 as it stepped up patrols along vulnerable border areas.
BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato told Parliament’s Home Affairs committee on Tuesday that officials made most of the interceptions along the northern border with Zimbabwe.
The borders with Lesotho and Mozambique recorded the next-highest numbers.
The BMA carried out 318 multidisciplinary operations during the period, including patrols and enforcement activities outside formal ports of entry.
Officials also set up static roadblocks along major transport routes to catch people who had avoided formal border controls.
Masiapato said the intensified operations helped reduce cases involving buses carrying undocumented people inside South Africa.
The BMA also refused entry to 12 100 people during the three-month period after officials tightened screening at land ports.
Masiapato said officials now expect travellers to provide clear information about where they will stay, explain the purpose of their visit and show that they have enough money to support themselves during their stay.
He said immigration officials had traditionally applied stricter requirements at airports than at land borders.
The BMA has now increased enforcement at land ports and expects the tougher approach to attract political criticism.
The authority arrested 760 people during its wider border enforcement operations, with officials focusing on people suspected of helping others enter South Africa illegally.
The BMA also processed almost 10 000 deportations through its border reinforcement operations.
As of August 7, the authority had processed 89 936 repatriations.
Malawian nationals made up more than 54 000 of those repatriated, with most travelling through the Beitbridge corridor. Zimbabweans accounted for about 37 000 departures through Beitbridge, while authorities repatriated about 2 200 Mozambican nationals.
The BMA also processed repatriations through OR Tambo International Airport involving nationals from several other countries.