On Thursday, 5 October, the border management authority (BMA) at the Beitbridge Border Post was officially launched at Musina Show Grounds, where President Cyril Ramaphosa handed the sword of authority over to the BMA's commissioner, Dr Mike Masiapato.
Earlier that day, President Ramaphosa met his counterpart, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, to discuss certain issues and, accompanied by members of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee of the BMA, undertook a guided tour of the Beitbridge border facilities.
In his keynote address, Ramaphosa said that the launch of the BMA was a fulfilment of the commitment that the government had made to enhance the safety and protection of the people who lived in South Africa. He said the aim of this entity was to address several serious challenges, including the influx of undocumented foreigners. "When our country's ports of entry are well protected and managed, we are able to prevent the illegal importation of goods into and from South Africa. The BMA will provide a suitable solution to the structural challenges of border control and coordination. Lawful trade is facilitated on a great scale, and much more importantly, in an efficient manner. The BMA will also help in combating cross-border crime, and that is why it becomes an important arm of our security apparatus. Foreign nationals who seek refuge or wish to live and work in South Africa are subjected to immigration laws and regulations," he said.
Also addressing the gathering, the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, added that 50 blue-uniformed maritime guards had been trained. He said that, on 1 April this year, all immigration practitioners at the borders, environmental biosecurity, agricultural biosecurity experts, and port health officials had been transferred to the BMA.
Limpopo Mirror spoke to some of Musina's residents who were still sceptical about the BMA's ability to reduce illegal activities at the border. "We have not really noticed any change regarding illegal activities at the Beitbridge Border Post since the deployment of these border guards last year. We will believe that they are truly serving a purpose when we start to see drastic changes at the border," said Mr Sammy Dollar.