JOHANNESBURG - The festive season has ended with a spike in arrests and interceptions at South Africa’s borders as authorities clamp down on cross-border crime.
Border Management Authority officers have been deployed across key ports of entry, with dozens of people arrested or refused entry in the past 24 hours alone.
At the busy Beitbridge border post, more than 60 people were intercepted attempting to enter the country illegally.
A further 27 travellers were refused entry, largely due to expired passports or because they were trying to re-enter South Africa while still serving five-year entry bans.
READ: BMA arrests more than 30 illegal border crossers at Beitbridge
Border Management Authority Commissioner, Dr Mike Masiapato, says operations remain on track as travellers return home in large numbers following the holidays.
In the last 24 hours, more than 29,000 people were processed at OR Tambo International Airport, followed by Beitbridge with about 23,000 travellers and Lebombo with roughly 20,000.
Masiapato says the highest number of interceptions continues to occur along the Lesotho border, particularly at the Maseru Bridge, followed by Beitbridge and Lebombo.
He adds that these areas remain key pressure points for illegal migration, requiring sustained law-enforcement presence.