Pretoria: Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner Dr Micheal Masiapato has unveiled an expanded Festive Season Operational Plan that will see the deployment of advanced surveillance technology and strengthened regional coordination to manage the holiday travel surge.
According to South African Government News Agency, Masiapato briefed the media in Pretoria on Sunday, detailing the four-phase plan which includes planning, execution, demobilisation, and sustenance. This plan is aimed at ensuring smoother traveller processing and tighter border security during one of the busiest times of the year. The planning phase, which started on 15 September and concludes on 9 December, involved extensive consultations with public and private sector stakeholders.
Masiapato highlighted the significance of these consultations, stating that they have led to the formation of critical partnerships guided by section 5(c) of the Border Management Authority Act. New partnerships include agreements with the South African Freight Forwarders Association, the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters, and the South African Association of Ship Operators and Agents. These partnerships will help fund some BMA operations through a cost-recovery model.
Technology companies such as DCD Protected Mobility, Aselsan South Africa, and Unipro Protective Wear will assist in implementing advanced surveillance and protective tools. The deployment of drones and body cams is expected to enhance detection capabilities and address potential corruption among team members.
To alleviate congestion at key ports, the BMA has partnered with TRAC and SANRAL to improve traffic flow management at the busy Lebombo port of entry. Masiapato also mentioned that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure will provide temporary infrastructure such as lighting, ablution facilities, barricades, and Jojo tanks across ports and corridors.
Additional ICT technicians will be deployed to support the movement control system, with remote assistance from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and the Department of Home Affairs. Discussions with neighbouring countries, including Lesotho, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, eSwatini, and Botswana, have been held to streamline cross-border operations. Adjustments to operating hours at key ports have been agreed upon to facilitate smoother operations.
The execution phase is scheduled from 10 December 2025 to 15 January 2026, divided into a departure period (10 – 31 December) and a return period (1 – 15 January). During this time, enforcement measures will be intensified to detect and seize narcotics, illicit goods, and stolen vehicles. Masiapato issued a warning to travellers against engaging in criminal activities around the ports or border law enforcement areas.
Demobilisation is set for 16 January, when ports with extended operating hours will return to normal schedules. The final sustenance phase will commence on 17 January, aiming for operational stability ahead of the 2026 Easter period.