ActionSA: No political will to fix 'dysfunctional' borders

This comes after the Border Management Authority rescued more than 400 children at the Beitbridge Border in Limpopo.

The 443 Zimbabwean children were allegedly being trafficked into the country on Saturday evening.

BMA Border Guards, working with the police and an anti-corruption team from the Department of Home Affairs, searched 42 buses at the Beitbridge border post.

In the buses they found children under the age of eight years travelling without parents or guardians.

Mashaba says this is only the tip of the iceberg.

"While we are grateful that these children have safely been returned home from the (Beitbridge) border post, I shudder to think of the possible hundreds of children who are illegally smuggled over where borders have been torn down and are not manned by security personnel. The South African government should take sole responsibility for allowing our borders to decay to this extent.

"As a party which values the rule of law, ActionSA believes that introducing new legislation or agencies such as the Border Management Authority will do little to address our porous borders unless corruption is ruled out and the political will exists to protect our borders. Our laws are implemented without fear or favour, but that is difficult when our laws are repeatedly undermined by politicians."

He believes there is a need for extensive reforms within the Department of Home Affairs. 

"The objective is to streamline the visa and work permit acquisition processes for those seeking lawful entry into South Africa, concurrently addressing issues of corruption and the issuance of fraudulent documentation.

"ActionSA believes that the government should enhance the capabilities of existing entities, provide training for personnel, and ensure strict enforcement of the law across all levels of government. We simply cannot allow our communities to further fall subject to this rise in lawlessness."

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