The South African Policing Union (SAPU) has thrown its support behind the Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum (BMIACF) initiative, which took place on 10 March 2026 at Ladybrand Hall and continued with a walkabout at the Maseru Port of Entry. SAPU says it supports the initiative because it aligns with the union’s longstanding commitment to fighting corruption in law enforcement.
“Since the launch of the Border Management Authority (BMA), SAPU has been actively involved in anti-corruption efforts,” said Lesiba Thobakgale, the union’s national spokesperson. He highlighted that the union’s position was formalised during its National Congress in Polokwane in November 2022, where a resolution declared that the “revolution against corruption, drugs, and gender-based violence starts with us, the working class.”
The union says the forum’s proactive approach to tackling corruption is critical. The union urges all law enforcement officers to resist temptations that could lead them into corrupt practices. “If proactive measures fail and corruption occurs, both the corruptor and the corrupted must be held accountable. That is how corruption and its ripple effects can be effectively addressed,” Thobakgale said.
The union expressed concern over recent figures shared by Dr Michael Masiapato, who reported that since the BMA’s establishment four years ago, 50 employees from the law enforcement sector had been dismissed for participating in corrupt activities. SAPU views this as a serious issue and says more collaborative anti-corruption initiatives are needed to prevent such cases.
Thobakgale warned that corruption has wide-reaching consequences, including the risk of allowing criminals to cross the border unchecked, potentially committing further crimes in South Africa. “The fight against corruption requires collaboration. SAPU has worked with the BMA and is willing to support any initiative that strengthens anti-corruption measures,” he said.
The union also praised law enforcement officers who resist corruption. “We honor and celebrate members who remain corruption-free. Our message to them is to continue setting the standard and resisting the temptations of corruption, for the sake of our society and future generations,” Thobakgale concluded.
SAPU’s support for the Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum underscores the union’s commitment to promoting integrity, accountability, and proactive measures in South Africa’s fight against corruption in law enforcement.
