The Department of Home Affairs has admitted it cannot guarantee that deported individuals have not re-entered South Africa undetected, citing severe resource constraints, significant enforcement gaps along unprotected stretches of the national border, and incomplete transfers of border control functions to the Border Management Authority (BMA).
In a formal response to Parliamentary questions, the Department acknowledged the Border Management Authority currently conducts its operations within a limited 10-kilometre radius of official ports of entry. This leaves large portions of the Republic’s borderline exposed to illegal immigration and the unchecked flow of contraband.
“The only way the BMA can give such an assurance [that deportees have not returned undetected] is if significantly more resources are invested in the institution,” said Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber. He emphasised that while the Authority does what it can under severe constraints, it simply does not possess sufficient personnel or tools to patrol the entire national border effectively. A comprehensive funding proposal has already been submitted to National Treasury for urgent consideration.
Dr Schreiber’s response also revealed that the BMA has not yet been fully empowered to perform all the functions outlined in the Border Management Authority Act, Act 2 of 2020. Key responsibilities are still being executed by other departments, namely the South African Police Service (SAPS), and the Department of Home Affairs itself, despite this being in direct contravention of the law.
Specifically, SAPS continues to operate a dedicated Border Policing unit outside ports of entry, while two DHA directorates, Operational Support and Airline Liaison, still carry out border enforcement activities. According to Dr Schreiber, this is illegal under Section 4(2) of the BMA Act, which requires that all border law enforcement at ports of entry and within designated zones be handled solely by BMA officers.
While the JCPS Ministers authorised the transfer of relevant functions, personnel, assets, and funds to the BMA as of 6 May 2025, logistical and administrative delays have left critical responsibilities in limbo. A programme is now underway to complete these transfers, but the lack of full consolidation continues to weaken enforcement capability.
In a related development, only 40 body-worn cameras have been issued to immigration officers across five major ports of entry, OR Tambo International Airport, Beitbridge, Lebombo, Maseru Bridge, and Ficksburg, at eight units per site. These devices are intended to deter corruption, misconduct, and unauthorised activity. While no incidents have yet been recorded, the Department believes the cameras serve as both a preventive measure and a tool for capturing evidence of wrongdoing.
Experts warn that unless the BMA is given full operational control, equipped with appropriate surveillance technology, and staffed at scale, the system will remain vulnerable to infiltration and abuse. Dr Schreiber’s own remarks underline that until additional resources are allocated and all border-related functions are consolidated under a single authority, South Africa cannot credibly claim to have airtight border control.
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