BMA rolls out hi-tech stamps, drones & fraud crackdown at SA entry points

Lebombo

Cape Town – The Border Management Authority (BMA) has launched a range of security upgrades aimed at modernising and tightening control over South Africa’s borders, with a strong focus on eliminating fraud, improving surveillance, and enhancing national security.

Speaking at a press conference in Pretoria on the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year (1 April – 30 June 2025), BMA Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato outlined key interventions, including the introduction of secure, traceable immigration stamps, deployment of drone surveillance, enhanced training, and counterfeit crackdowns.

Secure Immigration Stamps Replacing Abused System

The cornerstone of the latest reforms is the introduction of high-security immigration stamps, designed in partnership with the Government Printing Works.

These new stamps replace the widely abused old versions and come with enhanced anti-fraud features, including the BMA logo and unique identification numbers tied to specific officers. This makes it easier to trace the source of any misuse.

“Before the introduction of the new stamps, all key stakeholders across the criminal justice system and the border management ecosystem were consulted and engaged on the matter,” said Masiapato.

The older stamps were withdrawn concurrently with the distribution of the new ones.

Further plans are underway to redesign stamps for agriculture, health, and environmental functions.

The Commissioner also reminded travellers to ensure their passports are lawfully stamped at official ports of entry to avoid being declared inadmissible, deported, or even arrested.

Crackdown on Illegal Entry and Document Fraud

During the quarter, 9,954 individuals were intercepted and deported for attempting to enter South Africa illegally. These included:

  • 5,826 undocumented persons

  • 2,127 inadmissible persons

  • 2,001 classified as undesirables

The majority were from Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. Since July 2022, over 496,000 individuals have been stopped from entering the country unlawfully.

The BMA also identified and confiscated 14 passports containing fraudulent immigration stamps, highlighting ongoing efforts to fight document fraud.

Tech-Driven Surveillance and Law Enforcement Gains

To enhance surveillance capabilities, six border guards were trained as drone pilots in July, with more personnel set to undergo similar training. Drones are now actively used to monitor vulnerable segments of the borderline, strengthening visibility and enforcement.

In collaboration with the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), guards were trained in counterfeit detection and currency handling, equipping them to spot fake banknotes and coins.

Law enforcement efforts also led to the interception of:

  • 15 suspected stolen high-powered vehicles handed over to SAPS

  • 32 bales of counterfeit clothing and 201 pairs of counterfeit footwear, worth over R1 million

Since July 2022, a total of 349 stolen vehicles have been intercepted while being smuggled out of the country.

Passenger and Port Health Operations

Port immigration specialists processed 8.58 million passengers during the quarter, while port health officials issued 986 permits for the movement of mortal remains (44 imports and 942 exports).

In terms of child protection, 13 children were intercepted at various ports:

  • 5 were unaccompanied and handed over to the Department of Social Development

  • 8 were refused entry as they did not meet legal requirements, despite being with parents

The BMA emphasised that children under alternative care must carry a certified authorisation letter before departure.

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