Committee Raises Alarm Over Border Authority Underfunding

The portfolio committee on home affairs has raised serious concerns about the continued underfunding of the Border Management Authority (BMA).

- Enkosi Selane

The committee warned that financial constraints are hampering the organisation's ability to fulfil its mandate and implement crucial cybersecurity measures.

The BMA faces funding shortfalls that are hampering its ability to secure South Africa's borders and combat corruption, with the agency receiving only 30% of its requested operational budget.

During a parliamentary meeting with the department of home affairs and the BMA to review revised annual and strategic plans for the 2025-26 financial year, committee members raised serious concerns over what they described as systemic funding shortfalls that pose security risks to border operations.