South Africa border crossings: Details and times for the festive season

In this file photo, a women carries bags on 28 July 2018 towards the Beitbridge border post, near Musina, used by many Zimbabweans as a way to get back into Zimbabwe from South Africa. The Beitbridge crosses over the Limpopo River which is an infamous crossing point for illegal migrants and refugees coming into South Africa from Zimbabwe. Photo: Wikus de Wet / AFP

The Department of Home Affairs, along with other border law enforcement agencies and the six countries sharing borders with our country have finalised plans for the festive season.

Increased operating hours at SA ports

The plans are already in operation and will remain in place until 13 January 2020 . These plans will be implemented incrementally. This will help navigate the period of heightened movement across South Africa’s ports, done in the interest of all travellers.

The borders with traditionally high volumes of movement will have their operating hours increased by between one and seven hours. This means that the Lebombo Port of Entry with Mozambique and the Oshoek Port of Entry with the Kingdom of Eswatini will operate for 24 hours on some dates during this period.

Border law enforcement entities have confirmed their readiness to handle increased volumes of travellers and goods at all ports of entry. There will be an inflow and outflow of travellers including tourists, cross-border workers, academics and educational activities.

The Department of Home Affairs will deploy close to 400 additional officials at selected ports to assist with delivery of immigration services and offer technical support at the borders. Most of these officials will be at the Beit Bridge Port of Entry with Zimbabwe, Lebombo, Maseru Bridge Port of Entry with Lesotho and the Ficksburg Port of Entry with Lesotho.

The South African Police Services has increased police officials with an additional 80 members. South African Revenue Services (Customs) is deploying an extra 86 customs officials at selected ports, and the rest of the border law enforcement entities have also deployed limited numbers of staff as they will rely mainly on overtime for permanent staff.

Increases in traveller movement exert additional strain on resources and pose security risks. It is therefore imperative for border controllers to be adequately prepared to facilitate traveller movement and to curb illegal movement and other transgressions along the borderline.

Among main risks experienced during peak periods is fraudulent documents, undocumented travellers and poor access control due to congested roads. Drivers of vehicles are urged strongly to refrain from lawlessness around the borders, with all ensuring traffic rules are not undermined on the way to ports.

The DHA implores all travellers leaving and entering the country to ensure all their travel documents are in order to avoid unnecessary delays at ports. These include passports, visas and all other relevant documentation, including health certificates, permits for specified goods, plants and animals and vehicle insurance and bank authorised cross-border documents for vehicles.

South African border crossings, extended hours

Mpumalanga border

Lebombo Extended to 24 hours from 13 December 2019 – 13 January 2020Mananga Extended to 07:00 – 20:00 from 21 – 24 December 2019Jeppe’s Reef Extended to 07:00 – 22:00 from 21 – 24 December 2019Oshoek Extended to 24 hours from 19 – 21 December 2019Mahamba Extended to 07:00 – 00:00 on 21 December 2019 & 24 December 2019

Eastern Cape border

Qacha’s NekExtended to 06:00 – 22:00 from 21 – 24 December 2019Extended to 06:00 – 20:00 on 25 December 2019TellebridgeExtended to 05:00 – 23:00 on 13 December 2019 and on 17 December 2019Extended to 05:00 – 23:00 from 22 – 24 December 2019

KwaZulu-Natal border

Kosi BayExtended to 06:00 – 20:00 from 13 December 2019 – 09 January 2020

Free State border

Van RooyenshekExtended to 06:00 – 20:00 on 20 December 2019 and on 23 December 2019Extended to 24 hours on 24 December 2019Extended to 06:00 – 00:00 on 05 January 2020Caledonspoort Extended to 06:00 – 00:00 on 14 December 2019and on 01 January 2020Extended to 24 hours on 21 December 2019Monontsha PassExtended to 08:00 – 18:00 on 14 and 15 December 2019 and between 21 – 24 December 2019Rxtended to 08:00 – 17:00 from 28 – 31 December 2019Extended to 08:00 – 17:00 from 01 – 03 January 2020Border Management Authority Bill

The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, welcomes the adoption of the Border Management Authority Bill by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).

He noted the adoption of the Bill by the NCOP gives impetus to the country’s efforts to deal with porous borders which enable the illegal crossing of people, illicit goods, drugs, trafficking of people, particularly of women and children, and stolen vehicles.

“We welcome the adoption of the Bill by the NCOP. The Department must now increase its efforts to prepare for the establishment of the Border Management Authority. The implementation protocols with border law enforcement agencies for the mandatory co-ordination of their respective functions within the border law enforcement area and at ports of entry must be finalised within six months of the Bill being signed into an Act,” said Minister Motsoaledi.

The NCOP has referred the Bill to the National Assembly which will consider it before sending it to the President before it becomes law.

The DHA has been preparing for the implementation of this bill through the BMA Project Management Office. The adoption of the Bill by the NCOP will accelerate the work of this project management office.

Min Motsoaledi: we have prioritized the flagship government programme of establishing a Border Management Authority (BMA). The BMA Bill has been passed in this House in 2017 but has since delayed in the National Council of Provinces.

— HomeAffairsSA (@HomeAffairsSA) November 13, 2019

Will you be crossing borders this festive season?

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