BMA launches festive season plan: extra Staff, body cams and longer port hours

The Border Management Authority (BMA) is bracing for one of the busiest and most tightly monitored festive seasons yet, with Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato warning that travellers should expect intensified enforcement at all ports of entry from next week.

Speaking during a media briefing on Sunday, Dr Masiapato said the authority would deploy additional capacity across airports, land ports and seaports as millions of people prepare to move in and out of the country.

“In this period, we will be intensifying our measures to detect and seize narcotics, illicit goods and even stolen vehicles. We therefore want to warn all travellers to desist from committing any act of criminality around the ports or even in the border law enforcement areas as they will be detected and arrested,” he said.

The BMA expects traffic volumes to surge from 10 December until mid January, with most of the pressure anticipated at OR Tambo International Airport, Beitbridge, Lebombo, Maseru Bridge, Ficksburg, Oshoek, Kopfontein, Caledonspoort, Groblersbridge and Cape Town International Airport. These ten ports have historically handled more than 75 percent of festive season movements.

Masiapato said the authority is also rolling out body-worn cameras for officers deployed at high-traffic ports. “Body cams will help improve accountability, deter corruption and ensure the safety of both travellers and our personnel during this high-pressure period,” he said.

The commissioner said the authority enters the festive period after a demanding quarter in which BMA teams processed more than 9.2 million travellers between July and September. This represents a 23 percent increase compared to last year.

Surveillance drones and on the ground operations led to more than 8 000 apprehensions, including undocumented and inadmissible travellers. Officers also intercepted stolen vehicles, counterfeit goods worth more than R1 million and illegal cigarettes valued at more than R800 000.

Masiapato said the movement of foreign nationals continues to dominate border traffic.

He said historical data from previous festive periods shows that foreign travellers account for up to 78 percent of movements, with Basotho, Zimbabwean and Mozambican nationals making up the largest share of those intercepted while attempting to enter the country illegally.

As part of its festive season strategy, the BMA has secured personnel reinforcements from provincial governments, tourism monitors, social workers and several private sector partners. Additional surveillance technologies, including drones and body-worn cameras, will be deployed to tighten detection and deter corruption. The authority has also reached agreements with neighbouring countries to extend operating hours at selected ports to ease congestion.

Port health controls will be tightened, with inbound travellers being screened for communicable diseases. Those arriving from yellow fever endemic countries will be required to produce valid vaccination certificates. Parents travelling with children have been urged to ensure they carry all required documents, including birth certificates and consent affidavits.

The commissioner said the BMA’s role during the holidays remains critical as border pressure increases and criminal syndicates attempt to exploit the busy season. “Historically the festive period positions us to anticipate risks, improve processing times, refine command and control and elevate our responsiveness to the high volume and complex border management environment,” he said.

The high season operation runs until 15 January, after which the BMA will scale down and prepare for the Easter period.