Despite operating at just 24% capacity, the BMA has stopped over 595,000 illegal entries and prevented nearly a billion rand in cigarette smuggling, highlighting successes amid challenges during the festive travel period. TheBorder Management Authority(BMA) says it expects to surpass six million travellers during this year’s festive season, after processing just over five million in previous years. Speaking to the media, BMA Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato said, “Last year we were just around 5 million.
So we do believe that this time around we should be able to surpass the 6 million number.” He highlighted that only ten of South Africa’s 71 ports of entry process over 75% of travellers, including OR Tambo International Airport, Cape Town International Airport, and key land ports such as Beitbridge, Lubombo, Oshoek, Ficksburg, Maseru Bridge, and Caledonspoort. Masiapato warned that the authority is operating under severe staff shortages and ageing infrastructure, requiring collaboration with other departments. He said festive operations began on 10 December with the exit leg, running until 31 December, followed by the return leg from 1 to 15 January 2026.
“During this particular period, as the Border Management Authority, we become seriously pressured to be able to deliver on this mandate,” he said. The BMA is operating at just 24% capacity while facing a shortfall of over 70% in personnel. To mitigate this, officials from the Department of Safety and Security, local municipalities, and tourism monitors from the Department of Tourism – around 160 in total – have been deployed to assist across critical ports of entry, he said.
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On the integration of police personnel under a single command, Masiapato said technical discussions have taken place, but finalisation awaits political guidance. “TheMinister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, together with theMinister of Policethey are actually engaging. As soon as they are ready, we will implement as they guide us,” he explained.
Previous integrations with staff from Home Affairs, Health, Agriculture, and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment were completed by April 2023, he added. Infrastructure at ports remains a major challenge. Masiapato acknowledged, “This infrastructure here, this is not the kind of infrastructure that we actually would need to be able to do this work more effectively,” but said a public-private partnership (PPP) is set to redevelop six major land commercial ports, including Beitbridge, Lubombo, Oshoek, Ficksburg, Maseru Bridge, and Caledonspoort.
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