Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner Dr. Michael Masiapato revealed today that more than 9,000 individuals attempting to enter South Africa illegally were intercepted, apprehended, and deported in the latest reporting period.
During a press briefing in Pretoria, Masiapato disclosed that out of the 9,954 people stopped, 5,826 were undocumented. An additional 2,127 were deemed inadmissible due to fraudulent visas, invalid passports, or lack of required health documents such as yellow fever certificates. A further 2,000 were classified as “undesirable” due to previous immigration violations, including overstaying their visas.
The majority of those intercepted were from Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, continuing a longstanding trend in illegal crossings.
Crackdown on Vehicle Smuggling
Masiapato also highlighted the BMA’s efforts in combating vehicle smuggling, with 349 high-value suspected stolen vehicles seized since July 2022. In the last quarter alone, 15 vehicles were intercepted and handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for further investigation.
“These interceptions are linked to criminal syndicates attempting to smuggle cars out of South Africa into other parts of the continent,” Masiapato stated.
Long-Term Enforcement Efforts
Since the deployment of border guards in July 2022, the BMA has stopped a cumulative total of 496,622 individuals from entering the country illegally. Masiapato emphasized the ongoing commitment to securing South Africa’s borders and preventing unauthorized entry.
The BMA’s latest figures underscore the persistent challenges of illegal immigration and cross-border crime, prompting calls for continued vigilance and enhanced enforcement measures.