PRETORIA - The Border Management Authority (BMA) is warning travellers to not break the law at border posts this festive season.
BMA Commissioner, Dr. Mike Masiapato, says offenders will face the full might of the law. He's unveiled the authority’s festive season plans in Pretoria earlier.
"The execution phase start on the 10th of December 2025 and end on the 15th of January 2026. [...] During this phase, we will be intensifying our measures to detect and seize narcotics, illicit goods, and even stolen vehicles."
Over 9 million travellers entered and left South Africa in the second quarter of this financial year. That's a 23% increase compared to the same period last year.
The Border Management Authority says it also effected over eight thousand arrests on various charges during the period. The authority says that over half of the arrests were of undocumented immigrants.
"With the help of surveillance technology, mainly the drones, about 8,135 apprehensions were affected across the various ports of entry and the respective vulnerable segments, of which 4 092 were undocumented, 2 061 were inadmissible and 1 982 were undesirables."
Meanwhile, the BMA says it continues to engage neighbouring countries to ensure a crime-free border management system. The authority says it's looking to root out illegal migration and smuggling of illicit goods.