The Border Management Authority (BMA) has stopped 88 “undesirable” foreigners from overstaying in South Africa and intercepted illegal goods at the Lebombo Port of Entry during the Christmas period, while also managing heavy festive travel.
BMA Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato said the authority has processed more than 18,450 travellers leaving South Africa on Christmas Day.
“While the majority of travellers were processed through automated systems, only 450, mainly women and children, were processed manually and are currently being fully captured and reconciled on the Enhanced Movement Control System (EMCS),” he said.
He added that heightened patrols over the holiday period ensured no major law enforcement incidents in vulnerable areas.
“However, 88 individuals were declared undesirable, primarily due to overstaying their legally permitted period of 90 days in the Republic of South Africa,” Masiapato said.
The BMA also intercepted illegal goods and suspected immigration facilitators in the early hours of 26 December.
Officials seized more than 80 Nike sneakers from a person attempting to bring them into the country illegally, and one individual suspected of aiding illegal migration was arrested and charged under the Immigration Act.
All affected persons are being processed in accordance with immigration and law enforcement procedures, the commissioner confirmed.
On cargo movement, Masiapato reported that approximately 805 trucks were cleared at KM7, moving from South Africa into Mozambique and onward to the Port of Maputo.
He said the N4 corridor was now free of congestion towards the Lebombo Port of Entry.
“The Border Management Authority remains fully deployed and vigilant, ensuring both the facilitation of legitimate movement and the prevention of illegal activities at our ports of entry and along the borderline, particularly during this peak festive period,” Masiapato said.
hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za
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