Mapaballo Borotho
- South Africa’s Border Management Authority will extend operating hours at several key ports, with some now operating 24 hours ahead of the festive season.
- The BMA, currently operating at only 25% capacity, admits severe understaffing remains a challenge.
- Despite funding constraints, the authority says it is working with governments and organisations to manage the festive rush.
A majority of South African key ports are set to operate on a 24-hour schedule ahead of the festive season.
The Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Dr Michael Masiapato, on Sunday, 7 December 2025, announced the extension of operating hours at some of the key ports that do not operate on a 24-hour basis.
This includes two border gates between South Africa and Botswana, and South Africa and Lesotho, which will operate for 24 hours.
Addressing the media in Pretoria, Masiapato unveiled their festive season operation plan.
This plan is set to be effective from 10 December 2025 to 15 December 2026.
Dr Masiapato said the extension of operating hours in some key ports is designed to ensure smoother traveller processing and tighter border security during one of the busiest periods of the year.
“As a result, we have agreed to adjust operating hours at some of the key ports which do not operate on a 24-hour basis,” he said.
Masiapato, however, admitted that they remain under-staffed as they approach yet another busy festive season.
The BMA currently has about 1600 staff members.
This is despite requiring 11 200, which means the BMA is operating at about 25% capacity.
Dr Masiapato says funding is one of the main reasons they are unable to hire the number of staff members that they require to operate at 100%.
He, however, says they continue to collaborate with several governments and organisations to mitigate the problem.
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