The one-day event, held in collaboration with various government departments and industry stakeholders, aimed to discuss critical developments in border management and to showcase innovations in security and identification technology.
The conference brought together experts, government officials, and private sector representatives to explore how effective border management can support national security, foster economic growth, and contribute to social stability.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber highlighted the importance of coordinated border management across South Africa’s ports of entry.
He emphasised the necessity of blending modern technological solutions with inter-agency collaboration to secure borders more effectively.
Schreiber noted that technological advancements in monitoring and data integration could transform border control practices, addressing not only the movement of individuals but also the flow of goods and services across borders.
Former South African Statistician-General Dr Pali Lehohla joined the conference virtually, offering a broader perspective on the role of border management within the African continent.
He stressed that effective border controls are essential, especially in regions facing conflict and economic instability, which drive significant cross-border migration.
According to Lehohla, regional conflicts often lead to displacement, economic decline, and a rise in criminal activities, making it crucial for border agencies to manage these challenges efficiently.
"In the state Africa is in, we have a lot of movement of people,” he explained. “Management is essential to know who is who and where they are for development needs."
Lehohla argued that border management in Africa should evolve beyond the physical borders drawn by colonial powers, suggesting that countries adopt a more individual-based identification approach.
He proposed that the “border” should be understood as the individual, with each person's identity and movements being tracked digitally rather than focusing solely on physical borders.
Such a system would align with the African Union’s vision of a borderless Africa, promoting the free movement of goods and people under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Lehohla maintained that while borders could serve an immediate need for security, future-focused policies should prioritise individual identification to facilitate movement and integration.
Lehohla also highlighted the importance of population documentation for effective border management, noting that many African countries struggle to document their citizens comprehensively.
He cited South Africa’s success in registering a significant portion of its population and argued for a similar, continent-wide system. “When we have universal ID for Africa, borders will be less necessary, as the person becomes their own identifier,” he explained.
In his view, a harmonised ID system would enable governments to track individuals as they move between countries, interacting with services and economic systems seamlessly.
Beyond security, Lehohla believes that a focus on individual identification would aid in the broader socio-economic development of African nations.
He emphasised that traditional borders often hinder economic activity by creating barriers to movement, whereas a person-centred identification system would facilitate smoother transactions and movement, akin to the European Union's model.
“Border management should ideally facilitate—not restrict—movement, supporting economic growth across space and time,” he concluded, advocating for a unified African identity system that supports integration and aligns with Africa’s development goals.
--ChannelAfrica--
