South Africa: Border authority ramps up festive season operations!

According to the South African Border Management Authority (BMA), at least six million people will move through South Africa’s borders during the upcoming festive season. The BMA has therefor implemented a comprehensive plan including longer border post operating times and more boots on the ground for its festive season operations. It also engaged with South Africa’s six neighbouring countries on the “synchronisation of processes and other work modalities” including working hours.

The following working hours will now be operational at ports of entry:

• Grobler’s Bridge to Botswana: 06:00 to midnight on 15, 16, 22 and 23 December 2023
• Swartkopfontein to Botswana: 06:00 to 20:00 from 14 to 17 December 2023, 22 to 24 December 2023, 02 to 04 January 2024 as well as 13 and 15 January 2024
• Kosi Bay to Mozambique: 06:00 to 18:00 from 14 December 2023 to 14 January 2024
• Mahamba to eSwatini: 07:00 to midnight on 15, 23, 24 December 2023
• Jeppes Reef to eSwatini: 07:00 to 22:00 from 22 December 2023 to 02 January 2024
• Mananga to eSwatini: 07:00 to 20:00 from 18 to 23 December 2023
• Sanipass to Lesotho: 06:00 to 20:00 on 15, 16 December 2023 as well as 21 to 24 December 2023
• Caledonspoort to Lesotho:  06:00 to midnight on 15, 16 and 23 December 2023 and 02 January 2024. On 22 December 2023, the port will operate for 24 hours.
• Van Rooyensgate to Lesotho: 06:00 to midnight on 15, 16 and 24 December 2023 as well as 08 January 2024. It will operate for 24 hours on 23 December 2023 and 02 January 2024
• Monontsa Pass to Lesotho: 07:00 to 18:00 on 23 and 24 December 2023 as well as 02 and 03 January 2024
• Peka Bridge to Lesotho: 08:00 to 18:00 on 23 and 24 December 2023 as well as 02 and 03 January 2024

BMA Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato further announced that the Authority will be deploying about 380 additional personnel at the selected busiest ports of entry to assist with the delivery of services and provision of technical support during this festive season. There are also a number of senior members from the Border Technical Committee (BTC) who have been allocated individual ports for their visitation during the identified critical dates to provide support to the operational teams on the ground.

Covid-19: Namibia re-opens six border posts with South Africa and Botswana!

The Namibian Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has informed the public that four border post between Namibia and South Africa, which have been closed since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will re-open. The four border posts are Welverdiend/Mata Mata, Vellorsdrift/Onseepkans, Sendelingsdrift and Klein Manasse/Rietfontein. The Ministry further announced that the Dobe border post and the Kasika border post, which are bordering Namibia and Botswana, are re-opening today (06 August 2022).

Easter 2019: Operating hours extended at some of South Africa's ports of entry!

South Africa's Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has announced that it will extend the operating hours at some of the country's border posts during the Easter 2019 holidays. In addition, the DHA will install temporary infrastructure to help with the faster processing of travellers and will increase capacity of staff deployed at the South Africa's ports of entry. An additional 237 staff members will be deployed at selected ports.

South Africa: Extended border times for Easter 2018!

South Africa's Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba has approved the extension of operational hours for selected ports of entry for Easter 2018. The extension of operational hours already commenced on 27 March 2018 and will run until 06 April 2018.