Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has highlighted the urgent need for policy reform at South Africa’s 52 land ports of entry, citing serious security and infrastructure challenges that threaten their operations and national security.
During a visit to the Beitbridge port of entry on Monday, Minister Schreiber assessed the deployment of new specialised amphibious vehicles capable of navigating both water and rough terrain. The vehicles are designed to patrol the Limpopo River and disrupt illegal crossing routes that bypass official border controls.
The minister and the Border Management Authority (BMA) were also briefed on the port’s operational readiness ahead of the busy Easter travel period, one of the busiest seasons for cross-border movement in southern Africa.
BMA Commissioner Maike Masiapato, speaking at the site, explained the significance of the amphibious vehicles, which are part of a proof-of-concept partnership with DCD Mobility, a company that produces such vehicles.
“The vehicle is what they call amphibian. So basically it’s able to move on ground but also be able to move on soil,” Commissioner Masiapato said. “It is able to drive in any terrain and as you can imagine the border environment is a very complex space where there is some bit of uneven environment but also there are a lot of waters in between.”
She demonstrated how the vehicle operates: it drives on land with inflated tyres, but when entering water, the tyres deflate, allowing it to function like a boat using a specialised mechanism. In a morning test on the Limpopo River, despite rough waters, the vehicle successfully navigated the area.
“The most critical thing is its ability to enable us to be able to pick up instances where people are using these makeshift boats and try to enter South Africa illegally. So that is basically what it is actually to help us with from an interception point of view,” Masiapato added.
She stressed that the vehicle has not yet been procured and remains DCD property for the duration of the partnership, but procuring such vehicles would be vital for enhancing border security.
Commissioner Masiapato also addressed broader challenges at the border, particularly the inadequate border fence, which she described as one of the most fundamental issues making segments of the border vulnerable.
“The border fence… that is one of the most fundamental challenges you see when we talk about vulnerable segments in the work that we do unfortunately almost everywhere is vulnerable primarily because we do not have a solid fence,” she said.
Minister Schreiber has committed to engaging with colleagues across government to address fencing and other security concerns.
On staffing, the BMA is currently operating at about 25% capacity and is short by approximately 8,000 personnel. Masiapato welcomed the allocation of R990 million over the medium term to recruit around 700 additional people but noted that more funding and capacity are still required.
Regarding anti-corruption efforts, the commissioner reported that over 50 BMA members have been fired, with 38 more currently undergoing disciplinary processes that could lead to their dismissal. Tools such as body cameras and drones have contributed to improved monitoring.
“From a corruption point of view the body cams are very much helpful. Similarly, the drones are also helpful in terms of monitoring the ecosystem,” she said, adding that there are early signs of impact, though improvements will be gradual.
With Easter approaching, all ports of entry have prepared operational plans to facilitate legitimate movement of people and goods while addressing illegal migration and the smuggling of illicit goods. These plans are being consolidated into a national strategy, which the BMA plans to announce on Sunday.
Commissioner Masiapato confirmed that ports are ready to handle the expected high volumes of traffic securely.
The amphibious vehicle deployment forms part of a public-private partnership aimed at strengthening enforcement at Beitbridge, where illegal crossings via the Limpopo River have been a persistent challenge, as previously captured in drone footage.
Officials hope the vehicles, with their ability to traverse rough terrain, crush obstacles, and enter the river, will serve as both an interception tool and a deterrent alongside existing manpower.
