The Border Management Authority (BMA) has ramped up efforts to secure South Africa’s ports of entry, releasing a detailed first-quarter performance report for the 2025/26 financial year on Sunday, 3 August. The report highlights major crackdowns on illegal immigration, smuggling, and cross-border health threats — while also marking the official rollout of tamper-proof immigration stamps to curb passport fraud.
Established in 2023, the BMA is South Africa’s single, unified border enforcement agency tasked with managing immigration, customs, agriculture, health and environmental controls at all ports of entry — land, air, and sea. It operates under a “single command and control” system to streamline border operations across departments like Home Affairs, Health, Agriculture and Environment.
One of the biggest announcements in the report was the official replacement of South Africa’s outdated immigration stamps. The new stamps — in circulation since 1 August 2025 — come with advanced security features and are uniquely assigned to each officer, making it easier to trace and punish any misuse.
“In recent months, we observed widespread misuse of old stamps to fraudulently facilitate illegal migration,” Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Dr. Michael Masiapato, said. “The new stamps were designed with the Government Printing Works and include tamper-proof features to restore the integrity of immigration control.”
Officials warn that travellers whose passports lack valid stamps from official ports of entry may face refusal of entry, deportation or even arrest.
Nearly 10,000 Illegal Entrants Intercepted
Between April and June 2025, BMA Border Guards intercepted 9,954 individuals attempting to enter South Africa illegally. These included 5,826 undocumented persons, 2,127 deemed inadmissible, and 2,001 declared undesirable — the majority from Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Since its operational launch in July 2022, the BMA says it has blocked nearly half a million (496,622) illegal entry attempts. In the latest quarter alone, it recovered 15 high-powered stolen vehicles and seized R1 million worth of counterfeit clothing and footwear.
Document Fraud and V-List Enforcement
The BMA confiscated 14 fraudulent passports and flagged dozens more for overstays and immigration violations. Individuals who overstay their visa by more than 30 days face a 5-year ban unless they can provide compelling reasons, such as medical emergencies. A “V-list” system tracks such offenders.
Health and Biosecurity Watchdogs on Alert
Health inspections remain a critical part of border security. In the last quarter:
- 42 travellers were denied entry on public health grounds.
- 24 malaria cases were flagged and referred for treatment.
- 986 human remains were processed for cross-border movement — with 942 exported and 44 imported.
The BMA reminded travellers of the Yellow Fever vaccination requirement for those arriving from or transiting through high-risk countries. Failure to present a valid certificate can result in entry refusal or quarantine.
Only seven ports in the country — including OR Tambo, Cape Town, King Shaka, and Durban — are authorised to process imported medicines and health products, reinforcing South Africa’s efforts to block counterfeit or unregulated pharmaceuticals.
Environmental and Agricultural Security
BMA environmental officers processed 1,223 consignments under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), ensuring legal trade in rare wildlife and plants. Importers and exporters of such species are reminded to book inspections at least 48 hours in advance.
Meanwhile, over 38,000 agricultural consignments — including plants, live animals, and animal products — were screened to prevent the entry of diseases and invasive species. Non-compliant shipments were either treated, destroyed, or returned to the sender.
Children and Human Trafficking Concerns
In a sobering update close to the International Day Against Trafficking in Persons (30 July), the BMA confirmed it had intercepted 13 children attempting to cross borders — 5 of them unaccompanied. The rest, though with guardians, failed to meet legal documentation requirements.
The authority reminded the public that unabridged birth certificates, parental affidavits, or custody court orders are mandatory for all minors travelling across borders.
Drone Pilot Milestone and SARB Partnership
In an effort to modernise border security, six Border Guards have officially qualified as drone pilots. Previously reliant on Department of Agriculture pilots, the BMA is now building its own drone surveillance team to detect illegal activities in hard-to-patrol border zones.
Additionally, BMA officers were trained in counterfeit currency detection in partnership with the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) to further bolster their ability to combat economic crimes at the borders.
Public Urged to Report Corruption
In its closing remarks, the BMA urged all travellers to comply with border laws and report any suspected wrongdoing. The public can contact the BMA via its toll-free hotline 0801 229 019 or visit www.bma.gov.za under the campaign: Operation Hi-Tivise — If You See Something, Say Something.
“We remain committed to safe, corruption-free borders that support South Africa’s development,” said Masiapato.
This quarterly report underscores not only the growing complexity of cross-border crime, but also South Africa’s evolving capacity to respond with precision, professionalism and technology.
