Swazi Observer

FULL STORY

SOUTH AFRICA CRACKDOWN AT BORDERS

By BONGIWE DLAMINI | 2024-12-03

AS the festive season is yet to climax, South Africa has revealed that they will heighten security in all its ports of entry, including Ngwenya/Oshoek in a bid to curb undocumented immigrants and the movement of illicit goods, such as illegal cigarettes and stolen cars.

South Africa’s Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato revealed that they had identified the Oshoek Border Post as one of top 10 ports of entry predominantly used by tourists to enter South Africa.

Dr Masiapato was speaking at a press briefing on the festive season’s operations at the republic’s ports of entry broadcast live on SABC News yesterday morning.

It was aimed at outlining control measures at all 71 ports of entry into South Africa and also explain key requirements for travellers when entering and exiting the republic.

According to Masiapato, the BMA, which is an authority responsible for facilitating and managing people and goods coming in and out of South Africa’s ports, would ensure that the ports of entry were not exploited for any form of violence and criminal activities, including human trafficking smuggling and illicit goods.

“South Africa is faced with a range of complex border-related challenges, including illegal migration, sophisticated cross-border crimes and the smuggling of illicit goods into the country.

Zeal
“These undermine national security, economic growth, and the zeal for the realisation of regional economic integration,” stated Masiapato.

He further asserted that these challenges required South Africa and its neighbouring countries to establish a robust and integrated resourced border management platform free from criminal activities.

Masiapato said South Africa expected to receive about six million people this festive season, and that previous trends indicated that the Oshoek/Ngwenya Border was one of 10 ports which were used by most people to enter and exit South Africa.

Others included Beitbridge Port to Zimbabwe, Lebombo Port leading to Mozambique and Caledospoort and Maseru Bridge to Lesotho.

Trend
He said such trend was considered by the authority and other stakeholders when identifying areas that would require the deployment of additional resources during the busy festive period ending nect month.

In this regard, Masiapato stated that 69 extra personnel would be deployed at all the identified ports to assist with service delivery and provision of technical support to regular staff at the ports.

“The deployment of the 400 junior border guards implemented on June 1, in addition to the previously deployed 200 border guards, has improved the BMAs operational capacity by providing additional resources on the ground to strengthen security through streamlined access control into the ports of entry,” he said.

Masiapato revealed that during the planning stage, the authority, amongst other things, conducted extensive inter-jurisdictional discussions with six immediate neighbouring countries in order to streamline border processes and coordinate work modalities for this period.
The six countries were; Eswatini, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Mozambique.

Illegal immigrants to be deported

EMASWATI who will enter South Africa through informal crossings will be arrested and deported back to the kingdom this festive season.

The Border Management Authority (BMA), in partnership with other stakeholders in border law enforcement, including the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), will operate unmanned aerial systems (drones) to monitor congestions, illegal movement of people across the borderline and any acts that require interventions.

This, according to the BMA’s Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato, would be implemented from December 10, as per the operation plan.

He said from this date, the ports of entry, especially the vulnerable segments of the borderlines with South Africa, would be adequately guarded to intercept those who would be found to have illegally entered the republic without the required documents.

“Only legitimate people and goods will be allowed to enter and exit South Africa.
The BMA warns travellers to desist from committing any form of crimes around ports of entry and border law enforcement areas,” stated Masiapato.

Therefore, he advised travellers who will enter and exit South Africa to ensure that all the required documents, including passports, travel documents and visas where applicable, were in order to avoid unnecessary delays at entry and exit ports.

While security would be beefed up at the legal ports, Masiapato said border guards will be deployed to intensify security along the vulnerable segments of the border, and members of the SANDF would be also present operating the drones that will monitor the borders for quick reaction and apprehension of illegal migrants and other cross-border criminals.

Arrested
“Illegal immigrants will be detected, arrested and deported. A total of 410 000 illegal immigrants have been intercepted since the deployment of the first cohort of the border guards in July 2022. A majority of these were fingerprinted, declared undesirable for five years and deported,” stated Masiapato.

Additionally, Masiapato said the authority had also intensified measures to detect and seize illicit goods such as narcotics and stolen motor vehicles.

Further, the commissioner said with the ongoing ‘Operation Vala Umgodi’, the border guards would remain vigilant and prepared to intercept deported illegal miners and deter them from re-entering South Africa.

Last month, November 14, about 30 Emaswati were arrested in South Africa after they were working without permits while others did not have valid travel documents.

Those who had passports were fined E1 000 each and they were deported back into the country, while those who did not have passports would be fined over E2 000 in addition to spending time behind bars before their deportation.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs, through its Communications Officer Mlandvo Dlamini, also encouraged Emaswati who were used to entering South Africa via informal crossings to apply for travel documents so that they could use formal border posts to enter and exit the republic.

Border operating hours extended

SOUTH Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber has approved a request to extend the operating hours for some ports, including Mananga, Matsamo and Mahamba Border Posts.

This was announced by BMA Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato when unpacking the authority’s operation plan for the festive season.

He said the BMA and offices from the six immediate neighbouring countries namely; Eswatini Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Mozambique had agreed to adjust operating hours at key ports of entry, which do not operate 24 hours.

Masiapato said the Mahamba Border Post, which currently operates from 7am to 10pm, would be open until midnight on December 23 and 24.

Likewise, the Matsamo/Jeeps Reef Border, which ordinarily operates between 7am and 8pm, will open for an extra two hours and close at 10pm on December 23 and 24. Meanwhile, the Mananga Border, according to Masiapato, would open from 7am to 8pm on December 20 and 24, instead of the usual closing time at 6pm.

However, Ministry of Home Affairs Communications Officer Mlandvo Dlamini said they were still awaiting correspondence to this effect.

“Usually, once such a decision is made by the relevant parties, an official communiqué is then sent to the ministry, which has not yet reached us,” stated Dlamini.

Likewise, Emaswati immigration workers who have not yet been paid E40 million overtime dating back to 2015 said they had not yet received communiqué about the extension of operating hours for some borders.

Sanele Magagula, who is National Public Services and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) Mbabane branch chairperson, said although it was a norm that some border posts’ operating hours get extended during busy times, the immigration workers have not yet been formally informed about this change for the festive season.

“We will only meet with the immigration workers after we have received the communiqué and decide whether or not we will work overtime,” stated Magagula.

Other ports whose operating hours will be extended include Grobler’s Bridge and Swartkopfontein in Botswana, Kosi Bay in Mozambique, Sani Pas Port and Caledondpoort in Lesotho, amongst others.

share story