BMA announces Easter border changes: What travellers need to know

Entrance to the Beitbridge Border Post in Limpopo, 4 April 2023. Picture: Nigel Sibanda The Border Management Authority (BMA) is heading into its busiest weekend of the year as travellers move in and out of the country for the Easter holidays. According to BMA Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato, managing Easter travel is more complex than the December-January festive period due to its compact nature, with little room for flexibility, as it is concentrated over a single weekend.

On Sunday, Masiapato unveiled the operational plan for the Easter period, outlining measures to ensure efficient and secure movement facilitation To manage the movement of travellers, the BMA has extended operating hours at some of the country’s ports of entry. This follows the country’s port-based inter-jurisdictional discussions with our six immediate neighbouring countries: Lesotho, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Eswatini and Botswana. “These discussions were focused mainly on maintaining streamlined border processes, but also enhancing coordination in terms of operational modalities,” said Masiapato.

“As a result, agreements were reached to adjust operating hours at some of the key ports of entry, particularly those that are not operating on a 24-hour basis.” Its normal operating hours are 6am to 10pm. However, on Thursday, 2 April, it will operate 24 hours. The Lebombo border post (Mozambique) is already on a 24-hour basis. The BMA considers this a critical port of entry for holidaymakers.