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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.
Eyewitness News
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
More than 1,000 undocumented migrants arrested at Beitbridge border over Easter
Orrin Singh 22 April 2025 | 9:25 Border Management Authority (BMA) Beitbridge border Some of the undocumented migrants intercepted at the Beitbridge border on 21 April 2025. Picture: @TheBMA_SA/X JOHANNESBURG - More than 1,000 undocumented migrants have been arrested at the Beitbridge border between South Africa and Zimbabwe over the Easter weekend. The Border Management Authority (BMA) attributed these arrests to their operations using drones. Earlier in April, the BMA and the Department of Home Affairs announced they'd procured four high-tech drones to combat illegal crossings at the country's borders. BMA head, Michael Masiapato, said that policing borders without drones was a costly task. "A 1,000-plus people have been intercepted just in the past four days because of those drones. The most important thing that we are looking at implementing, we need to actually have a targeted approach where we identify the facilitators for this illegal migration issue and get them arrested." Masiapato detailed how drones were assisting in targeting illegal crossings at Beitbridge. "In terms of here in Beitbridge, with the issue of the river here, we are able to see people being put into the boat and they are basically crossing the river with those individuals. So, what basically we do is we allow them to come through and as they come through we are able to send the coordinates to our border guards on the ground. And on that basis, they are able to go specifically to where those people are and we are able to get those people intercepted." The BMA, in collaboration with SAPS and SANDF, successfully intercepted individuals attempting to enter South Africa unlawfully through the detection of drones. This coordinated effort also led to the apprehension of facilitators and the confiscation of illicit goods in the… — The Border Management Authority SA (@TheBMA_SA) April 21, 2025
