The Border Management Authority (BMA) of South Africa has reported a significant surge in undocumented migration during the Easter long weekend, with a total of 3,170 individuals intercepted at the borders. The Easter holiday period saw a total of 4,763 travellers being stopped, with the majority being undocumented migrants, according to BMA Commissioner Dr. Michael Masiapato.
Dr. Masiapato detailed the situation, stating, “Out of the 4,763 intercepted travellers, approximately 3,170 were found to be undocumented persons, 998 were deemed ‘undesirables,’and 595 were considered inadmissible for various reasons.”The reasons for inadmissibility included possession of fraudulent visas, failure to present yellow fever certificates from yellow fever-endemic regions, and invalid travel documents.
The BMA has taken stringent measures against those without proper documentation. All individuals intercepted without valid documents were fingerprinted, and those declared “undesirables “were effectively deported in accordance with the Immigration Act. This declaration bars them from re-entering the country for the next five years.
The majority of the intercepted individuals were Basotho Nationals, followed by Mozambicans, Zimbabweans, Swati Nationals, Malawians, and Ethiopians. The BMA’s efforts to manage the influx of undocumented migrants highlight the ongoing challenges faced by border security agencies in the region.
Source: enca
Original author: Siya Tsewu
