Basotho and Zimbabweans top illegal entries into SA: BMA

THE Border Management Authority (BMA) says about 26 852 individuals attempted to enter South Africa illegally during the 2025 and 2026 festive season, of these 14 828 were Basotho nationals, followed by 5 370 Zimbabweans and 1 373 Mozambicans.

- SIMON MAJADIBODU

DESPITE processing nearly 4.9 million travellers across 71 ports of entry, South African authorities intercepted fewer undocumented migrants than in the previous festive period. I X/BMA

(X/BMA)

The BMA also reported a decline in illegal crossings of 46 percent compared with the 2024/2025 festive season, when 58 394 people attempted to enter the country illegally.

BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato and Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber briefed the media yesterday on the festive season operational report.

Masiapato said the BMA facilitated the legitimate movement of about 4 902 269 travellers across its 71 ports of entry, which include 52 land ports, 10 international airports, and nine seaports, as well as border law enforcement areas.

“Of this total, about 1 369 775 were South African nationals, while 3 532 494 were foreign nationals,” Masiapato said.

He added that the BMA processed approximately 340 876 private vehicles, 9 072 minibus taxis and 10 349 buses through land ports.

Masiapato said through air ports, about 7 787 aircraft were processed, while 243 vessels were processed via sea ports.