Home Affairs launches high-tech border measures to curb R100bn illicit trade

THE Department of Home Affairs has introduced new technologies at the country's borders ahead of the Easter weekend.

- MANYANE MANYANE

This was after Minister Leon Schreiber last week unveiled drone fleets and body-worn camera technology that would be rolled out by the Border Management Authority (BMA), in a bid to combat corruption and secure the borders.

Schreiber announced that the department launched four advanced aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, and 40 body-worn cameras.

These newly introduced technologies are expected to be deployed for the first time over the Easter weekend.

South Africa shares borders with countries such as Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

However, the country’s borders have faced numerous challenges, including illegal migration, cross-border crime and slow border crossings.

These issues are exacerbated by porous borders, corruption and inadequate infrastructure with cross-border crime including illicit trade, smuggling and human trafficking.

Allegations of corruption, police misconduct and collusion between law enforcement and criminal groups are also frequent. In November 2022, six police officers in Limpopo were arrested for accepting bribes to create a “safe passage” for smugglers to enter the country illegally, while in possession of illicit cigarettes.