Nearly half-a-million illegal border crossers nabbed over the past three years

The Border Management Authority (BMA) reported that it deported nearly 10,000 individuals attempting to illegally enter South Africa during the first quarter of the financial year.

In a Sunday briefing, BMA Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato said that most individuals intercepted at border posts and deported were Basotho, Zimbabwean, and Mozambican.

“Of the 9,954 persons, 5,826 were undocumented, 2,127 were inadmissible and 2,001 were undesirables,” Masiapato.

He added that since July 2022, the BMA’s border guards have stopped 496,622 people who have attempted to enter South Africa illegally.

Masiapato also reported that 13 children had been intercepted at various ports of entry in the first quarter. Five were unaccompanied and subsequently handed over to the Department of Social Development.

He says the remaining eight were with their parents. However, they were refused entry because they did not meet the requirements to enter the country.

These requirements refer to the necessary documentation that must be supplied when passing a border post.

Parents travelling with their children must produce the unabridged birth certificate showing both parents’ names. 

If only one parent is present, they must carry an affidavit from the other parent, a court order granting full parental rights, or the other parent’s death certificate.

“A child who is under alternative care must produce a certified copy of an authorisation letter from the Provincial Head of the Department of Social Development prior to departure,” Masiapato said.

“Without this letter, the BMA immigration officer will refuse departure.”

As for children travelling alone, they must present a letter or affidavit showing consent from their parents.

Masiapato says that border guards also intercepted 15 high-powered stolen vehicles, which have been handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The BMA also prevented the smuggling of 349 vehicles out of the country and stopped over R1 million in counterfeit goods from entering.

“The Border Guards seized about 32 bales of counterfeit clothing and 201 pairs of counterfeit footwear with an estimated value of over R1 million,” Masiapato said.

“Regarding document fraud, 14 passports bearing fraudulent immigration stamps were identified and confiscated, further illustrating ongoing attempts to undermine national security and immigration controls.”

In addition to the quarterly figures, Masiapato announced a new BMA stamp for ports of entry, replacing the older stamps from the Department of Home Affairs.

“The old stamps inherited from Home Affairs back in 2023 were very easy to replicate as they could be purchased from any stationery shop,” Masiapato told the SABC.

“However, the new stamps, designed in partnership with the Department of Printing Works, are very difficult to duplicate as they have the BMA logo engraved in the stamp.”

He said the stamps also have several other watermarks engraved, such as members of South Africa’s big five and specific watermarks for seaports, airports, and land ports of entry.