By Levy Masiteng
The Border Management Authority (BMA) will use technology, including drones and bodycams, to secure borders for the holiday period.
During a media briefing on Sunday, Michael Masiapato, Commissioner of the BMA, also announced that the agency will be supported by additional personnel provided by the Western Cape government and the Department of Tourism to cope with increased traffic volumes during the festive season, which, for BMA, runs from this week Wednesday to the 15th of January next year.
“Operationally, this plan is supported by the National Joints and Intelligence Structures, commonly known as the Nat Joints, including all respective Provincial Joints across the nine provinces,” said Masiapato, noting that this covers the work of the BMA across the 71 ports of entry, comprising 52 land ports, 10 international airports, as well as 9 seaports.
The BMA, which was established in April 2023, is responsible for immigration facilitation and management, agriculture and environmental biosecurity, port health, as well as general border law enforcement, which includes access control to all borders and ports of entry.
“We want to assure the public, our stakeholders, and our international partners that the BMA is fully prepared, fully mobilised, and fully committed to delivering a seamless 2025-2026 festive season operations,” the BMA said.
To enhance security and surveillance, the BMA will deploy an integrated suite of advanced technologies, including drones and body cams.
Masiapato said drones will be used to monitor and detect any suspicious activity, while the body cams will help to address issues of corruption and ensure accountability among BMA officials.
Masiapato said the BMA has also partnered with various stakeholders, including the Western Cape Provincial Government and the City of Cape Town, who will provide around 50 personnel who are deployed at Cape Town International Airport, mainly to assist them in managing immigration activities.
The Department of Tourism will also provide 160 tourism monitors to assist with queue management at ports of entry.
Additionally, the BMA has partnered with TREC, which provides hazardous and emergency goods transportation services, as well as the South African National Rods Agency Limited (Sanral) to improve traffic flow management and reduce congestion risk, particularly at Lebombo Border Control, a port of entry on the N4 towards Mozambique.
Masiapato added that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure will also be providing additional infrastructure including temporary lighting, ablution facilities, special temporary barricades as well as JoJo tankers for the provision of additional water within the port of entry.
The BMA advises travellers to be aware of the following requirements and regulations:
-All travelers must present a valid machine-readable passport with at least two unused pages.
– Travelers from yellow fever endemic countries must present a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate.
– The import and export of human remains require a cross-border permit issued by the National Department of Health.
– Travelers are prohibited from bringing regulated goods, such as meat, fruits, and plants, into the country without proper permits and payments.
– The BMA will conduct luggage inspections and sniffer dog operations to detect and confiscate prohibited goods.
Masiapato has also announced extended operating hours for certain ports of entry, including OR Tambo International Airport, Cape Town International Airport, and several land ports.
These are applicable on specific dates during this period, such as Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Travellers are advised to check with the BMA or their airlines for specific operating hours and requirements.
“We urge all travellers to comply with the regulations and requirements to avoid any delays or inconvenience,” said Masiapato, who wished travellers a safe and peaceful festive season.
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