BMA says it's facilitated the movement of over a million people over Easter period
The authority has briefed the media on movements and interceptions at all of the country's 71 ports of entry during the Easter holiday.
Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner Micheal Masiapato. Picture: @TheBMA_SA/X.
JOHANNESBURG - The Border Management Authority (BMA) says it facilitated the movement of over a million people between the end of March and the beginning of April, a significant jump year-on-year.
READ: 4,000 people nabbed for trying to enter SA illegally over Easter period: BMA
The authority on Sunday briefed the media on movements and interceptions at all of the country's 71 ports of entry during the Easter holiday.
It said it noted a 24% increase in traveller volumes.
"We facilitated about 1,136,250 travellers across our 71 ports of entry compared to the 2023 Easter period where we reported having facilitated about 913,859 travellers," said BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato.
He said that the commission and police officials made dozens of arrests over the 10-day period.
"During this Easter period, border guards working with members of the SAPS arrested about 143 individuals for committing various types of crimes and transgressions within the part of entry and the border law enforcement area. The majority of these individuals serve as facilitators of illegal activities around the port of entries and were therefore charged for aiding and abetting."