Government rolls out border infrastructure overhaul to curb illegal crossings

By Thapelo Molefe The government will begin a major upgrade of border fencing and patrol infrastructure this year as authorities intensify efforts to curb illegal crossings, smuggling and other cross-border crimes. Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said on Tuesday that Cabinet had approved the Borderline Infrastructure Improvement Programme, which will be rolled out in phases until 2030 across the country's seven border provinces. The programme will include new and upgraded fencing, improved patrol roads, surveillance technology and control centres aimed at strengthening monitoring along South Africa's approximately 4,471km land border. Kubayi, who chairs the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, said deteriorating fencing and roads had made it difficult for security agencies to patrol some areas. 'Over time, border security infrastructure has deteriorated significantly, with large sections of fencing damaged, vandalised or even absent and critical access roads in poor condition,' she said. 'This has negatively affected border safeguarding operations, limiting patrol mobility, delayed response time, increased drain on personnel and equipment and creating vulnerability exploited by illegal crossing, smuggling and transnational crime.' National Treasury has finalised a funding model for the project, although Kubayi said details of the budget would be announced by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana. Home Affairs director-general Livhuwani Tommy Makhode said the borderline project was separate from the public-private partnership programme aimed at redeveloping six major ports of entry. He said the border upgrade would be implemented in three phases, based on the vulnerability of different areas. 'Phase one, for example, will include the border with Zimbabwe where we currently have challenges and then of course Mozambique will be a part of that,' Makhode said. Lesotho is expected to form part of a later phase. The announcement comes as government reported that 86,596 foreign nationals were processed for deportation and repatriation between 14 June and 20 August. Kubayi said Malawian nationals accounted for the largest group, followed by Zimbabweans and Mozambicans. Government data showed that about 90% of those repatriated had entered South Africa illegally, while 95% were classified as border jumpers. More than 4,200 undocumented foreign nationals were also intercepted while attempting to enter South Africa away from official ports of entry between April and July. Most were caught along the Zimbabwean border, followed by areas bordering Lesotho and Mozambique. Authorities conducted 81 joint border law enforcement operations during July. Kubayi said government had also expanded the use of technology at the borders. The Border Management Authority is operating five drones at Lebombo, Maseru, Oshoek, Beitbridge and in KwaZulu-Natal, with nine additional drones being procured. Another 40 body-worn cameras are being deployed at critical ports of entry to improve operational oversight and help combat corruption. Kubayi said the infrastructure programme was aimed at addressing more than irregular migration. 'It doesn't speak only to the issues of illegal migration or illegal immigrants, but it talks to issues of economy,' she said. She said improved border controls would also target the smuggling of cigarettes, alcohol and other goods, vehicle theft across borders and corruption involving officials. Government has meanwhile decommissioned the Temporary Repatriation Processing Centre in Musina after demand dropped sharply. The centre, which at its peak had a capacity of 20,000 people and processed more than 4,000 repatriations a day, was shut on 21 August. Kubayi said the number of people processed through the centre had fallen to as few as 58 during August, allowing government to return to normal migration enforcement operations. INSIDE METROS