Question NW381 to the Minister of Home Affairs
07 March 2023 - NW381
Chabane, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Considering that since the establishment of the Border Management Authority (BMA) significant progress has been made to date, notwithstanding, the Republic still experiencing persons entering the country illegally, what measures are put in place by the BMA to tackle such challenges?
Reply:
The BMA has trained and deployed Border Guards to various segments of the land border law enforcement areas and Ports of Entry. Their key responsibilities, amongst others, is to detect and prevent illegal persons from entering the country. Since their deployment, the Border Guards have registered multiple successes in preventing cross-border crime, including illegal migration.
Further, from the 1st of April 2023 officials from the Departments of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development; Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment; Health; and Home Affairs, who are responsible for the execution of border law enforcement functions at Ports of Entry, will be integrated into the BMA which will be characterised by a single command and control structure at Ports of Entry. Guided by the Authority’s SOPs, such a structure will streamline processes for the detection and handling of persons attempting to enter the country illegally by the Authority’s personnel.
END