By Lebone Rodah Mosima
The Border Management Authority (BMA) has dismissed claims that deportees from Eswatini are entering South Africa through informal border crossings, saying the country’s land ports of entry with the neighbouring kingdom remain secure.
The claims follow a public outcry that Eswatini was secretly releasing some of the deportees into South Africa through informal crossings.
The BMA said it had noted the claims and confirmed that access-control measures were in place at designated entry and exit points.
The authority’s response comes after the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini announced on Wednesday that three Third Country Nationals (TCNs) who had arrived in the country under a bilateral arrangement with the United States had voluntarily left for their respective countries of origin in recent weeks.
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The United States and Eswatini entered into an agreement to receive about 160 alleged illegal immigrants deported from the US. Washington reportedly paid Eswatini about R100 million to receive the deportees, some of whom had previously been convicted of serious crimes, including child rape, armed robbery and murder.
South Africa, through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), has raised concerns over the arrangement, citing potential threats to regional security and the stability of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The Eswatini government said the first TCN, a Yemeni national, left the country on September 8 after requesting to return to his country of origin.
A second TCN, a Belizean national, departed on September 30 after requesting to return home.
The third, a Laotian national, left on October 4 after requesting voluntary repatriation.
“These departures form part of the ongoing arrangements concerning Third Country Nationals temporarily residing in the Kingdom,” the Eswatini government said.
It said it continued to engage with relevant authorities and partners to facilitate voluntary repatriation requests in accordance with applicable procedures.
The government also thanked countries and authorities that had assisted with the transit of the TCNs to their respective countries.
It said the cooperation had helped ensure the orderly facilitation of their journeys home.
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Eswatini reiterated its commitment to protecting the rights, dignity and well-being of the TCNs while safeguarding the security and interests of the kingdom and its people.
The BMA, supported by other law enforcement agencies, said it maintained a presence at the country’s ports of entry and continued to conduct border surveillance and enforcement operations to prevent and detect unlawful entry, including human smuggling and trafficking.
“It is imperative to understand that any person who is in transit through South African airports goes through international transfers without entering the Republic,” the BMA said.
“Therefore, any attempt to circumvent formal ports of entry is subject to detection and enforcement action.”
