The head of South Africa’s Border Management Authority (BMA), Dr Mike Masiapato, has detailed the agency’s dual strategy of tightening security against illegal immigration while simultaneously streamlining cross-border trade to foster African integration.
In a recent interview, Dr Masiapato outlined the BMA’s efforts to solidify the country’s border management environment, highlighting the procurement of drones to monitor land borders. He reported significant operational successes, including the interception of approximately 495,000 individuals attempting to enter South Africa illegally and the arrest of 114 individuals identified as facilitators of illegal migration.
“All of this work has been done as an attempt to address the issue of the porosity of our borders which is something that has always been the articulation out there,” Dr Masiapato stated.
Alongside security, a major focus for the BMA is improving the flow of legitimate trade and travel, a critical factor for the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Dr Masiapato emphasized that as one of the continent’s most industrialized nations, South Africa’s border efficiency is paramount.
“The success of African continental free trade area depends on how well we manage our borders,” he said. “We fairly agree on that particular assessment.”
To this end, he announced that the BMA is at an advanced stage of a public-private partnership to redesign and upgrade six key land ports of entry: Lebombo (to Mozambique), Beitbridge (to Zimbabwe), Oshoek (to Eswatini), Maseru Bridge (to Lesotho), Ficksburg (to Lesotho), and Kopfontein (to Botswana). This initiative, expected to begin next year, aims to significantly improve traffic movement.
The BMA has already implemented measures that have yielded positive results. A “time release study” at the Oshoek port of entry led to processing efficiencies that reduced truck waiting times on the N17 corridor from three hours to just twenty minutes. Dr Masiapato also confirmed that prolonged truck queues on the N1 towards Zimbabwe have been eliminated.
In a significant legislative update, Dr Masiapato confirmed that the long-awaited One-Stop Border Post bill has been approved by the National Assembly and is now with the National Council of Provinces. Once signed into law, this will facilitate seamless border crossings with South Africa’s six immediate neighbouring countries. A limited version of this model is already implemented with Mozambique at Lebombo during peak festive periods.
The BMA’s logistical capabilities were recently tested during the G20 leader summit, where the agency was responsible for processing all incoming world leaders, delegates, and over 3,000 international journalists through the OR Tambo, Lanseria, and Waterkloof Air Force Base ports of entry.
Dr Masiapato credited their success to advanced preparation, learning from hiccups experienced during the 2023 BRICS summit. By working with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to pre-clear requirements with foreign embassies, the BMA ensured the smooth arrival of all attendees.
“This time around when the people arrived at the port, we didn’t have much issues,” he reported. “We’ve been able to bring everybody successfully into the country without any challenge.”