The intensified operations will run from April 15 to 24, in collaboration with the SA Police Service, the SA National Defence Force, the SA Revenue Service, and traffic authorities. The BMA says the operations will span major land borders, harbours, and airports.

Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria, Gauteng province, BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato confirmed the extended hours and new technological support. “We engaged with our counterparts effectively, our neighbouring countries. Here we talk about Lesotho, we talk about Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, Namibia as well as Botswana. We have agreed to extend some operating hours at certain critical ports, which are effectively not operating on a 24-hour basis,” said Masiapato.

He added, “As a result, the Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Consultative Committee on border management, who is also the Minister of Home Affairs, Doctor Leon Schreiber, had approved our request to extend this operating hour at the selected port of entry.”

In addition, four high-tech drones and 40 body-worn cameras will be deployed across various borders and ports of entry to bolster surveillance and enforcement.

--ChannelAfrica--