Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has revealed that nearly 16,000 illegal foreigners were caught trying to enter South Africa during the 2024 festive season.
The Border Management Authority faced a significant influx of people trying to cross the border into the country illegally during the festive period.
Schreiber revealed that the number of attempted illegal crossings has increased compared to the previous year.
“The number of attempted illegal border crossings by undocumented persons that were successfully prevented increased by 215% this past festive season,” he said.
In 2023 and 2024, Schreiber said 15,924 undocumented persons were intercepted, while in 2024 and 2025, the number rose to 50,312.
“Another 6, 159 people were detected for overstaying, and a further 1,923 were refused entry due to fraudulent documentation or non-compliance with entry requirements,” Schreiber said.
He said the BMA border guards, in collaboration with the South African Police Service (SAPS), managed to make 322 arrests, including 132 wanted criminals, and seized illicit goods that included R690 million worth of illegal cigarettes.
Schreiber said that drone technology plays a key role in securing the country’s borders.
“The piloting of new technologies like drones and body cameras have demonstrated the power of digital transformation to secure and enhance border management,” he told the media at the GCIS in Pretoria, on Friday.
He said the use of drones at five ports of entry, which includes Beitbridge, Maseru Bridge, Lebombo, Kopfontein and Oshoek, with support of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, led to the detection of 2,188 people attempting to enter the country illegally.
“Furthermore, the drones led to 2,326 breaches in the border fence being identified and sealed.”
He said 42 pilots were assigned and effectively operated the drones across the five ports of entry.
”This is clear evidence of the impact technology can have in improving border management,” Schreiber said, emphasising the need to make the technology a permanent tool for the BMA.
He added that during the 2024 and 2025 festive season, the BMA processed 5,084,251 entries, an increase of more than 51,000 compared to the previous year.
“This included processing of 395,189 private vehicles, 12,974 minibus taxis, 6,071 buses, and 58,938 trucks for import and export.”
In addition, he said, 9,491 aircraft and 660 vessels were also processed.
“These movements were generally efficient, with 66% of imports and 74% of exports cleared within 30 minutes – although this is an area that can be improved upon through automated procedures,” Schreiber said.
He said the top 10 ports of entry, including the OR Tambo International Airport, Beitbridge, and Lebombo, accounted for 81% of all processed movements.
“Six of these critical land ports are set for redevelopment over the coming years through public-private partnerships,” Schreiber said.
While he acknowledged the progress made, Schreiber said that more work needed to be done to ensure the efficient, secure, and digital control of the country’s borders.
“It is my desire to see more funding for the BMA, so that we can employ both more personnel and technology to secure and manage our borders,” Schreiber said.
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