Over 6,200 people tried to cross SA borders illegally this Easter

The Border Management Authority (BMA) says it has successfully intercepted over 6,200 people who attempted to enter South Africa illegally over the Easter period. This has marked a 63% increase in enforcement success compared to the same period last year.

BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato said at the weekend that the authority’s 10-day operation, which ran from 15 to 24 April, saw 6,253 would-be illegal migrants detected. This is up from the 3,841 intercepted during the 2024 Easter period.

These successes are reportedly a result of the digital overhaul of South Africa’s border control systems.

Earlier this month, the BMA deployed cutting-edge surveillance technology, including AI-powered night-vision drones, advanced body cameras, and smart monitoring equipment. The technology allowed for real-time tracking and faster interception of illegal activities, signalling a bold new era in border security.

“While we are still early in the reform process, the digital transformation of border management is clearly yielding meaningful progress,” said Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber

During Easter ops, the number of attempted illegal border crossings detected and prevented shot up 63%, from 3 841 in 2024 to 6 253. Still a long way to go, but AI-driven night-vision drones, body cameras and other tech reforms show how digital transformation delivers progress 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/FRoFOMvxiU

— Leon Schreiber (@Leon_Schreib) April 28, 2025

“The success of Easter operations to clamp down on illegal immigration follows on similar improvements over the 2024/25 Festive Season, indicating sustained improvement in the efficiency of border management.” added Schreiber

The Easter season is traditionally a high-traffic period across the country’s ports of entry, prompting the BMA to scale up its enforcement activities annually.

Schreiber, however, says the Border Management Authority still has a long way to go, but the digital transformation of the border environment has set South Africa on a new trajectory towards secure and efficient border management.

“I congratulate and am encouraged by the enthusiasm with which digital reforms are being implemented by the BMA leadership,” the Minister said.