The Border Management Authority (BMA) says the Beitbridge border post is ready to receive people coming into the country as we head towards the end of the festive season holidays.

Beitbridge is one of the biggest inland ports of entry which processes thousands of travellers coming in and going out of the country.

BMA Commissioner Dr Mike Masiapato says they expect to see an increase in vehicles and people heading towards the end of the weekend.

“We can indicate that we did complete first leg on the 31st of December 2024, and from the first of January 2025, we are fairly ready now to start receiving the people into South Africa coming from the rest of the continent at Beitbridge port of entry. I can indicate that inside the port we have made demarcations where we are going to be processing all the small vehicles, processing all the people coming on public transport like busses and taxis,” says Dr Masiapato.

Furthermore, Dr Masiapato says they are working closely with all stakeholders, including the police, to prevent stolen and hijacked vehicles from crossing the border into the neighbouring countries.

“In terms of the interception of vehicles, that is one thing we do together with our colleagues from South Africa Police Services. On that basis, we are on very high alert. We have to verify all the vehicles, mainly vehicles that are financed because if you were to take a financed vehicle out of the country you would need a letter from the financier or the bank in question to indicate that they are aware that the vehicle in question is supposed to be exiting the country,” he says.

Beit Bridge Border post a hotspot for illicit activities including the smuggling of contraband: