Latest news with #MichaelMasiapato
The Citizen
08-05-2025
- The Citizen
Border guards intercept cross-border criminal syndicate at Kosi Bay
A black Toyota Corolla attempting to cross into Mozambique was stolen in Durban North. The Border Management Authority (BMA) intercepted and recovered three high-value assets suspected of being linked to transnational crime syndicates attempting to smuggle them into neighbouring countries. BMA commissioner Michael Masiapato said the guards were stationed at the Kosi Bay port of entry when they made the bust. Recoveries 'While conducting search operations at the customs inspection area, BMA Border Guards uncovered a black Senke motorbike frame concealed inside a trailer. The frame matched details from a pending police case of a stolen motorbike in Mayville. 'The suspect, who was en route to Malawi, was also found in possession of seven mobile phones for which he could not provide proof of ownership. He was detained in accordance with the Immigration Act, and a case was opened at Emanguzi Police Station,' Masiapato said. Later in the day, the BMA Border Guards intercepted a white Toyota Hilux driven by a Mozambican man en route to Mozambique. ALSO READ: WATCH: BMA intercepts and detains over 6 000 people trying to enter or leave SA illegally Tampering Masiapato said the guard found that the VIN and engine numbers had been tampered with. A detailed check confirmed that the vehicle had been reported stolen in Lyttelton. 'On the same day of the 5th of May at 5pm a joint team led by five BMA Border Guards recovered a black Toyota Corolla Cross attempting to cross into Mozambique. The driver failed to provide credible documentation of the vehicle. 'The Border Guards discovered that the vehicle was operating under a false disc and had tampered VIN and engine numbers. It was later confirmed that the vehicle was stolen in Durban North. The suspect was charged and detained at Emanguzi Police Station,' Masiapato said. Warning Masiapato sent a stern warning to criminal syndicates, saying the recoveries demonstrate the effectiveness of the BMA's law enforcement operations. 'Criminals attempting to exploit our ports for illicit activities will be met with swift and decisive enforcement. The BMA is closing the space for cross-border crime, and our Border Guards will continue to act with vigilance, professionalism, and integrity.' Masiapato urged community members to report suspicious cross-border activities, as public cooperation is critical in curbing smuggling, vehicle theft, and undocumented movements across South Africa's borders. ALSO READ: Committee calls for more border resources after almost 60 000 illegal crossing attempts
TimesLIVE
07-05-2025
- TimesLIVE
Border guards arrest cross-border smuggling suspects in Kosi Bay
Border Management Authority (BMA) guards stationed at the Kosi Bay port of entry intercepted and recovered three high-value assets suspected to be linked to transnational crime syndicates attempting to smuggle them into neighbouring countries. 'While conducting search operations at the customs inspection area, BMA border guards uncovered a black Senke motorbike frame concealed inside a trailer. The frame matched details from a pending police case in Mayville,' BMA commissioner Michael Masiapato said on Wednesday. The suspect, who was en route to Malawi, was also found in possession of seven mobile phones for which he could not provide proof of ownership. He was detained under the Immigration Act and a case was opened at Emanguzi police station. Later that day, BMA guards intercepted a white Toyota Hilux driven by a Mozambican man attempting to cross into Mozambique. Masiapato said the guards found that the VIN and engine numbers had been tampered with. A detailed check confirmed the vehicle was reported stolen in Lyttelton, he said.
IOL News
29-04-2025
- IOL News
Border authority drones intercept over 6,000 illegal crossings into South Africa over Easter
Border Management Authority says it has arrested more than 6,000 undocumented immigrants trying to enter or exit South Africa illegally during Easter weekend The Border Management Authority (BMA) has praised drone technology for helping arrest over 6,000 undocumented immigrants over the Easter weekend, with Zimbabweans leading the list of illegal entry attempts. This was revealed in the BMA's Easter border operations report by Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato during a media briefing on Monday at various ports of entry. Masiapato said the operation spanned 10 days, from April 15 to April 24, and recorded an 8% increase in cross-border travel compared to the previous year. He said they recorded about 1,057,063 movements across the country's 71 ports of entry. Masiapato said authorities intercepted 6,253 individuals attempting to enter or exit the country illegally, a 61% increase from the 3,841 intercepted during the 2024 Easter period. 'We have been able to intercept and apprehend a total of 6,253 persons who were attempting to enter or exit South Africa illegally,' said Masiapato. Of the 6,253 intercepted individuals, 4,795 were undocumented, 1,059 were considered "undesirables," and 403 were found to be inadmissible due to various reasons. Masiapato said some of the inadmissible cases involved individuals with fraudulent visas or those who failed to produce a yellow fever certificate when arriving from countries affected by the disease. South Africa shares borders with six neighbouring countries: Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini. Many of these are vulnerable to illegal migration, smuggling, and human trafficking.
The South African
29-04-2025
- The South African
Easter crackdown: Zimbabweans lead in attempts to enter SA illegally
Data shows Zimbabweans are most frequently caught attempting illegal entry into South Africa. Image via X@TheBMA_SA The latest report from the Easter border operations shows that Zimbabweans top the list of those caught trying to cross into South Africa without the proper papers. This came out after the Border Management Authority (BMA), along with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Home Affairs, stepped up their game over the Easter holidays to try and stop people from entering the country illegally. Increase in illegal crossing BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato recently briefed the media on the outcomes of the Easter operation. The operation spanned from 15 April to 24 April, and Masiapato revealed an 8% increase in travel over the period, with about one million movements recorded across all 71 ports of entry. He also revealed that authorities detained more than 6 000 individuals attempting to enter or exit South Africa illegally, a 61% increase compared to previous figures. Zimbabweans lead attempts to enter SA illegally Highlighting a consistent pattern of the top three nationalities undermining immigration laws, Masiapato pointed to Zimbabweans as the highest offenders. According to BMA, Zimbabwean, Mozambican, and Basotho nationals remain the top three nationalities attempting to enter South Africa illegally. Zimbabweans had their numbers reach 2 019, according to the report. After them, the next biggest group was from Lesotho, with 1 921 individuals. Sadly, there were also 1 143 instances involving people from Mozambique. The report further noted that the remaining 1 170 cases involved Swati nationals and individuals of other nationalities. What do you think makes individuals enter South Africa illegally Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
Daily Maverick
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Border Management Authority hails new drones as ‘game-changer' at SA ports of entry
Over the Easter period about 6,000 people were apprehended or intercepted trying to come into South Africa or exit via ports of entry. This is almost double the previous year's 3,841. The difference this year? The implementation of drones. Just before Easter, the Border Management Authority (BMA) announced the implementation of drones to help combat illegal border crossing. This has paid off, with an increase of 61% of people intercepted or apprehended at ports of entry. 'It's a game-changer,' BMA commissioner Michael Masiapato told the media on Monday, 28 April as the authority unpacked Easter period statistics at the country's ports of entry. Earlier in April, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber and the BMA announced the implementation of drones in a bid to curb the illegal border crossing into the country. At Monday's briefing Masiapato said the use of drones this year had a 'serious impact'. 'Just in a period of 10 days we have been able to intercept and apprehend a total of 6,253 persons who were attempting to either enter or exit South Africa illegally,' he said. About 4,795 of those people were undocumented, 1,055 people were undesirable and 403 were found to be inadmissible for various reasons, including fraudulent visas and failure to provide yellow fever certificates. In addition to the 6,253, 'about 112 individuals were arrested at the ports of entry and/or border law enforcement area for various reasons and were handed over to members of the SAPS for further processing'. Masiapato said the 'majority of these individuals served as facilitators of illegal activities around the ports of entry and were therefore charged for aiding and abetting according to section 49(2) of the Immigration Act'. The interceptions of 61% could be 'attributed to the deployment of hi-tech surveillance drones and body-worn cameras'. Asked by journalists about the use of drones, Masiapato said this had been a 'game-changer'. When drones were deployed, 'what effectively happens is we are then able to communicate with the border guards on the ground' through devices and then officials could detect who was trying to enter the country illegally and where, and intercept them. Masiapato added that drones have made it easier to carry out targeted interceptions, helping officials to identify facilitators who bring people into the country. 'When you have intercepted 10 people, you ask them who is the facilitator. They will never tell you who the facilitator is and guess what, we deport all of them,' he said. Even after deportations, facilitators had gone back to facilitating illegal migration within hours. Masiapato said: 'We could not be talking the way we are talking today last year in April because we did not have the drones. 'So, from where we are sitting now, we are saying the issue of the drones is a game-changer, but more importantly, because they enable us to be able to arrest the facilitators… the more we take facilitators out of the value chain, the more we start having some impact because the vicious cycle has been continuing forever.' In December 2024, Daily Maverick took a deep dive into the South Africa-Zimbabwe smuggling network via Musina, near the border, which has been a long-standing problem because the border is porous. Masiapato also said there were about 1,057,063 movements across the 71 ports of entry in South Africa, an increase of 8% over the previous Easter period. In 2024's Easter period the country registered about 974,729 at the ports of entry. 'This upward trend highlights the growing demand for cross-border travel in the post-Covid period.' DM
