ICYMI: BMA adjusts ports of entry operational times
The Border Management Authority has adjusted operational times at some of the country's ports of entry for the festive season.
It has been done to accommodate over the six million people who are expected to cross the various borders over the festive season.
The number of travellers crossing the border is set to be the highest since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Briefing the media on Monday, BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato said in the pre-COVID period of 2019/2020, the BMA facilitated about 6.3 million people across our various ports of entry.
"The numbers decreased in the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 period to about 1.6 million due to COVID restrictions. However, in the 2022/2023 period, we recovered to above 4 million people. The recovery continued in 2023/2024 to above 5 million people.
"This time around, we anticipate a full recovery to the pre-COVID number of more than 6 million people. Over the years, our top ten ports of entry, which facilitate the majority of the people, have always been OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, Beit Bridge land port to Zimbabwe, Lebombo land port to Mozambique, Caledonspoort, Ficksburg and Maseru Bridge land ports to Lesotho, Cape Town International airport in the Western Cape, Oshoek land port to eSwatini, as well as Kopfontein, and Groblers’ Bridge land port to Botswana.
"Therefore, during the development of this plan, this historical trend was taken into consideration, especially when considering areas requiring the deployment of additional resources."
Two ports of entry are expected to be operational for 24 hours on Christmas Eve.
This includes the Van Rooyensgate and Caledonspoort ports of entry from Lesotho.
Masiapato adds that in addition to extending operating hours, 69 additional personnel will be deployed at the selected busiest ports of entry to assist with service delivery and technical support for regular staff members.
"The deployment of the 400 junior border guards from June 2024, in addition to the previously deployed 200 border guards, has improved the BMA's operational capacity by providing additional resources on the ground to strengthen security through streamlined access control into the ports.
"The BMA has already deployed members of the coastal guards to the critical areas of the selected harbours for the implementation of border law enforcement functions. The BMA will also be collaborating with the Western Cape Provincial Government and the City of Cape Town to increase capacity at the Cape Town International Airport.
"This capacity augmentation will be made up of 60 peace officers as an addition to the immigration functions at the airport. On account of our Memorandum of Understanding with Interpol, in this festive period, the respective port management committees will collaborate with Interpol and SAPS in joint operations to combat various cross-border crimes."
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