South Africa’s new Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner Mike Masiapata has assured citizens that the entity will eradicate corruption and secure the country’s borders.
The BMA came into effect on 1 April 2023, and it is expected to be officially launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in Musina, Limpopo, next week.
Speaking at a National Press Club media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday, Masiapata said legislative frameworks had to explored before the BMA could be established.
“Since 1994, South Africa has been using a multi-agency approach in its border management. It was therefore decided that a single agency was needed to manage the country’s borders,” Masiapata said.
Masiapata said the previous multi-agency approach had included seven departments and agencies including the Departments of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development; Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment; Health; Home Affairs; the South African National Defence Force (SANDF); the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African Revenue Service (SARS). Each entity had a physical presence in the border environment.
Masiapata said managing the country’s borders had been a challenge under this system.
“For almost 15 years, there have been some discussions to try and have the Border Management Authority established to deal with the challenges the country is faced with. There was a lot of corruption brought by the old system,” Masiapata said.
Masiapata said BMA officials will be thoroughly vetted.
The BMA has, since its inception, recorded successes, amongst them intercepting stolen vehicles.
In June 2013, Cabinet made the decision to establish the Border Management Agency under the guidance of the Department of Home Affairs.
The decision was taken in recognition of the National Intelligence Co-ordinating Committee (NICOC) 2012 Feasibility Study, which highlighted weaknesses in border management.
The authority will be responsible for the execution of frontline border law enforcement functions including port health, immigration control, access control, biosecurity, food safety and phytosanitary control, land border infrastructure development and maintenance and border information and risk management. – SAnews.gov.za
