By Thapelo Molefe
Operations at the Beitbridge Border Post showed signs of stabilising on Monday, following an intense weekend marked by high traveller volumes and a surge in attempted illegal crossings intercepted through drone surveillance.
Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato said conditions on Monday were “much better” after officials worked through the night to clear long queues of buses and pedestrians that had built up on Sunday.
“We processed over 22,000 travellers and more than 100 buses yesterday. Overnight, we were able to clear the backlog, including pedestrian queues that had stretched as far as the bridge,” Masiapato said.
BMA officials remain on high alert, particularly along vulnerable bushy sections near the Limpopo River, where illegal crossings are common.
Using drone technology, officials intercepted 97 undocumented foreign nationals attempting to enter South Africa illegally over the past 24 hours, with two suspected facilitators arrested and charged with aiding and abetting.
The interceptions followed a series of drone-guided operations conducted on Sunday when aerial surveillance detected groups crossing the Limpopo River and moving through “no-man’s land” toward South African territory.
“This is exactly how the drones assist us,” Masiapato said. “We monitor people from the moment they exit the river until they cross into South Africa, and that is when our response teams intercept them.”
Officials said that undocumented migrants intercepted through these operations are processed for deportation, while facilitators, identified by their position leading groups, are arrested and handed over to the South African Police Service in Musina.
According to Masiapato, drone surveillance has significantly reduced illegal crossings at Beitbridge, which was previously one of the most porous land ports of entry in the country.
“The drone is no longer a festive-season tool. It is permanent,” he said.
“Our border guards are trained drone pilots and this has helped deactivate many of these operations.”
He added that South Africa was largely acting alone, with little cooperation from neighbouring Zimbabwe in preventing illegal migration.
Beyond border interceptions, traffic volumes along the N1 between Musina and Polokwane increased on Monday as holidaymakers returned south.
Roadblocks stationed near Beitbridge continued to intercept undocumented migrants attempting to catch lifts into the country, alongside checks for unroadworthy vehicles.
Beitbridge remains one of South Africa’s busiest ports of entry, processing more than 20,000 travellers daily since Saturday.
While some travellers complained about slow processing times over the weekend, officials said outdated systems and extreme volumes had placed pressure on operations.
The BMA expects traveller numbers to gradually decline during the week before rising again toward the weekend, with the festive return leg scheduled to end on 15 January.
INSIDE POLITICS