OR Tambo International Airport handled more than 993,000 travelers, with the number of travelers increasing by 22% year-on-year.
- More than 5 million people crossed South Africa's borders during the Christmas season.
- This festive season saw an increase of around 1 million tourists compared to the previous year.
- According to border control authorities, more than 27,000 people were refused entry and deported in 43 days.
In just 43 days, more than five million people passed through South Africa's ports of entry.
Border Management Agency (BMA) Commissioner Mike Masipato said in a briefing on Sunday that between December 6 and January 18, the BMA facilitated the legal movement of 5,096,288 travelers across 71 ports of entry. He said he did.
Masiapat said that although the number of tourists has increased by about 1 million compared to last year, the number is still below the pre-COVID-19 pandemic of about 6 million travelers.
News24 previously reported that the BMA announced that there would be a significant increase in the movement of people and goods through various ports of entry during the festival period. The BMA announced that opening hours have been extended at several ports of entry with Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique and Eswatini.
In addition, approximately 380 additional personnel were deployed to work at selected ports during the holiday season.
Masiapat said BMA authorities processed more than 216,000 private vehicles, 21,500 minibus taxis, 6,400 buses and 55,700 trucks at ports of entry.
In addition, more than 13,000 aircraft passed through South Africa's international airports.
The majority of these travelers passed through OR Tambo International Airport, South Africa's busiest port of entry.
The airport handled more than 993,000 travelers, a 22% year-over-year increase in travellers.
The second busiest port of entry is Lebombo Land Port of Entry to Mozambique, handling 755,000 travelers (up 24% year-on-year), followed by Beitbridge Land Port of Entry to Zimbabwe with 745,000. (up 25% from the previous year). % increase).
Mr Maciapat said:
While our primary job as the BMA is to facilitate the lawful movement of people, we also must deal with individuals who attempt to move illegally through ports of entry and border enforcement areas.
He said 27,005 people had been deported in 43 days after attempting to enter South Africa illegally. Of these, approximately 16,000 people attempted to enter South Africa without the required documents.
Most of these people were captured in and around Lebombo and Beit Bridge.
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In addition, more than 6,400 travelers, including those who have committed crimes in other countries and are on Interpol's red list, have been refused entry to South Africa “on the basis of being undesirable,” Masipato said.
“Despite these intercepts, as a border agency, we remain concerned about some carriers, public transport providers, who consciously continue to transport illegal immigrants through ports of entry and border enforcement areas. “There is,” he said.
“During this period, we imposed approximately 98 administrative fines totaling R3,540,000 against various transport operators, particularly bus companies, for the transport of illegal immigrants.”
Masiapat added that 246 “criminal elements” were arrested and four tube boats allegedly used to move illegal immigrants across the river to South Africa were seized. He said various drugs were also seized.
He went on to say that the BMA's team of health experts had tested around 1.4 million travelers for a range of infectious and communicable diseases.
He said about 400 people were turned away because they could not produce a valid yellow fever certificate.
“Following outbreaks of cholera in parts of Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia, the BMA Port Health Team has increased testing activity at the Beitbridge border crossing. As a result, a case of cholera has been detected at Beitbridge. [the person] He has been handed over to the Limpopo Health Authority for further testing and treatment,” Masipato added.
News24 previously reported that the two laboratory-confirmed cholera cases in Limpopo province were both “imported from Zimbabwe,” the country's health department said.
The outbreak in Zimbabwe has so far claimed more than 200 lives.
Mr Masiapat added: “Despite the end of the 2023/2024 festive period, as the BMA we will maintain enhanced border operations and take steps to strengthen our border management capabilities for the future. “From this operation, we have already made plans,” he added. Prepare to manage the Good Friday festive period in the coming weeks. ”
