Border Management Agency to be operational in 2023, says Home Affairs Department
The Border Management Agency (BMA), which was formed last year as a single authority to man the country’s borders, will be operational at 18 ports of entry next year.
This was the word from the Department of Home Affairs when it tabled its annual performance plan to the portfolio committee. Director-general Tommy Makhode said the department would ensure that the BMA was operational by 2023-24 at 18 ports of entry, six segments of the land border law enforcement areas and one community crossing area.
“We want to ensure BMA rolled out to an additional seven ports of entry and one additional segment of the land border law enforcement area by 2024,” he said when he was detailing the department’s budget for 2022-23.
Makhode said 100% of selected ports of entry would be equipped with biometric functionality by March 2024 and the automated biometric information system would be implemented by 2022-23.
He also said their target was to secure the border posts through phased implementation of the BMA.
Makhode also said there was also incremental establishment of the BMA through the submission of pre-listing documents to the National Treasury.
The agency was in the process to fill critical management positions, including work around the border guards.
The BMA already has a commissioner, Nakampe Michael Masiapato, who was appointed last year along with his deputy David Chilembe.
According to Makhode, the agency was still finalising protocols with the South African Revenue Service. A lot of work was done in transferring the functions related to the Department of Agriculture and SAPS to BMA, including identification and ring-fencing personnel, funds, assets and liabilities.
Source: IOL
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