Border Management Authority on track to deal with illegal immigration, says Commissioner Masiapato

Johnathan Paoli

THE Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner Dr Mike Masiapato says the new authority was a culmination of years of discussion and has made significant progress in its drive to dispel the notorious reputation of the country’s permeable borders.

The commissioner was speaking during a media briefing on Thursday to announce the authority’s plans on strengthening South Africa’s 72 ports of entry.

The BMA was proclaimed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in July 2020, launched last year by Home Affairs minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and is expected to be officiated by the president in early October this year to fulfill the country’s need for integrated and coordinated border management in accordance with the Constitution, international and domestic law.

Masiapato says that since July last year, 95 000 immigrants with fraudulent documents have been deported back to their countries 139 stolen vehicles have been recovered before they were transported across the