The government is stepping up efforts to secure South Africa’s borders through improved infrastructure, technology, surveillance and coordinated law enforcement operations, as part of the implementation of the Five-Point Plan on Migration Management.
On Tuesday, 08 September, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi stated that significant progress had been made in strengthening border management and improving coordination among agencies operating at ports of entry and vulnerable border areas.
According to the minister, the plan is intended to improve border security, patrol mobility, operational response times, personnel safety, infrastructure maintenance and intergovernmental coordination, while deterring illegal cross-border incursions.
In a statement, the government highlighted that despite the progress, there are still challenges along the country’s extensive borders.
“More than 4 200 undocumented foreign nationals were intercepted attempting to enter South Africa outside formal ports of entry between April and July 2026. Most were intercepted along the northern corridor bordering Zimbabwe, followed by areas bordering Lesotho and Mozambique.”
“Almost 90 000 people have been repatriated, while 81 joint border law enforcement operations were conducted in July.”
“South Africa has an extensive land borderline of approximately 4471km, shared with six neighbouring countries and traversing varied and challenging terrain. Overtime, border security infrastructure has deteriorated significantly, with large sections of fencing damaged, vandalised, or absent and critical access roads in poor condition.”
“This has negatively affected border safeguarding operations, limiting patrol mobility, delayed response time, increased strain on personnel and equipment, and creating vulnerability exploited by illegal crossing, smuggling and transnational crime.”
“A cabinet memorandum on the proposed borderline infrastructure improvement solution was approved by cabinet recently and National Treasury is finalising the funding model for the project,” Kubayi said.
In terms of making use of technology, the Department of Home Affairs has intensified efforts to modernise the border management environment through the Electronic Traveller Authorisation and the upgraded Enhanced Movement Control System, launched at OR Tambo International Airport by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 12 August 2026.
The Minister added that scanners are also operational at all major land ports, airports and seaports. The Border Management Authority is currently operating five drones at critical border points in Lebombo, Maseru, Oshoek, Beitbridge and KwaZulu-Natal, while procurement of nine additional drones is underway.
About 40 body-worn cameras are also being deployed at critical ports of entry to improve operational visibility and combat internal corruption.
