Beitbridge Border: BMA Drones Show Promise in Combating Illegal Crossings

The Border Management Authority (BMA) has reported early successes in its use of drones along the Beitbridge Border Post, which connects South Africa and Zimbabwe, as part of efforts to curb illegal migration and enhance border security.

Since the start of the festive season, drones have been deployed in conjunction with other security measures like push tokens and body cameras to assist in monitoring the border. According to BMA Assistant Commissioner Nkhuliseni Luvhengo, the drones have already begun to show significant results in intercepting migrants attempting to cross the Beitbridge border illegally.

“We are beginning to see the importance and benefits of deploying the drones, the push tokens, and the body cams this festive season,” said Luvhengo. “Just yesterday, we intercepted 75 people attempting to cross through vulnerable areas. These individuals were either heading to Zimbabwe to buy goods or planning to sell items on the South African side. While we haven’t encountered a large number of illegal crossings yet, these early successes show promise.”

Beitbridge Border monitoring operations and ensure there is seamless processing

The BMA’s efforts are part of a broader strategy to tighten border security and reduce illegal immigration, human trafficking, and the smuggling of goods, especially during high-traffic periods like the festive season. The Beitbridge Border Post is one of the busiest points of entry and exit between South Africa and Zimbabwe, with large volumes of people and goods crossing daily. The introduction of drones has added an extra layer of surveillance, helping authorities monitor areas that may be difficult to patrol on foot.

The drones are not only helping to intercept illegal crossers but are also improving the efficiency of border security operations. In recent days, the BMA has made several arrests of individuals attempting to illegally enter South Africa, reinforcing the importance of technological support in enhancing border control.

While the use of drones is showing positive results, challenges remain. Some travellers have voiced their concerns over the long queues and delays at the Beitbridge border, with many citing frustration at the slow pace of document processing. Tinashe Musodza, a traveller from Harare, Zimbabwe, described the situation as “hectic” and time-consuming.

“It’s taking two or three hours just to get from Harare, and then you face these long queues at the border,” Musodza said. “It’s very tiring, and the queue is extremely long. It’s causing a lot of frustration for many travellers.”

The BMA is aware of the concerns and continues to monitor the situation closely. BMA Commissioner Dr. Michael Masiapato is currently on the ground in Musina, Limpopo, overseeing the operations and the ongoing ‘stop and search’ activities conducted by BMA Border Guards. These operations aim to ensure that only authorised individuals and goods are entering South Africa while preventing illegal activities.

Despite the frustrations of some travellers, the BMA maintains that its enhanced security measures are necessary to ensure the safety and integrity of the country’s borders. “We are committed to streamlining the process, but our primary objective remains the protection of South Africa’s borders and ensuring that illegal activity is intercepted,” Luvhengo explained.

With the festive season continuing, border authorities are expected to face further challenges as traffic through Beitbridge remains high. The BMA has vowed to keep improving its operations, integrating new technologies like drones and body cams to ensure that border security remains robust and effective.

In the coming weeks, as more people return to South Africa and cross through Beitbridge, the BMA hopes to continue building on the success of its technological initiatives and improve the efficiency of its border management processes.

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source – SABC