South Africa Ramps Up Security at Border Entry Points
(MENAFN) South Africa is ramping up security at its border entry points by implementing advanced measures, including drone surveillance and uniquely traceable stamps, according to an official from the Border Management Authority (BMA).
Michael Masiapato, the commissioner of the BMA, shared these developments during a media briefing about new protocols set to be rolled out across the country’s ports of entry. He revealed that eight border guards have been enrolled in drone pilot training, with six successfully completing the course as of July 14.
"To increase our drone operation capacity, we plan to send more border guards for drone pilot training as we move to more modernized border law enforcement and improve our detection of a variety of cross-border crimes such as illegal migration, trafficking, goods, and human smuggling, among others," said Masiapato.
The drones will primarily serve for enhanced surveillance and monitoring, focusing on vulnerable areas along the border. In addition, the BMA has introduced new security stamps issued to immigration officers at entry points to combat corruption. The authority is also collaborating with the South African Reserve Bank to equip border guards with skills in counterfeit detection and proper currency handling.
"This initiative forms part of the BMA's broader commitment to strengthening national security and represents a deliberate step toward enhancing the integrity of border control processes," Masiapato said. "Each of the immigration officers has been allocated a specific stamp with its unique number linked to each officer to trace back should their allocated stamp be found to facilitate illegal migration into the country."
In the first quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year, the BMA reported processing 8,582,250 travelers entering and leaving South Africa. Additionally, 9,954 individuals attempting illegal entry were intercepted and deported, Masiapato noted.
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