The updated stamps, which became effective on August 1, have been distributed across all 71 ports of entry, including land borders, airports, and harbours.

The Deputy Commissioner of the BMA, Mmemme Mogotsi, says the initiative addresses widespread concerns about the forgery and misuse of older stamps that have been in circulation since the dawn of democracy.

“These stamps were easily acquired and fraudulently reproduced. People were bypassing official channels and having passports stamped illegally. This posed a serious security risk,” she said in an interview.

The newly issued stamps incorporate “three-tier” security features developed in collaboration with the Government Printing Works, the state agency responsible for producing secure government documents like identity documents and passports. While some features are visible, others can only be detected with specialised equipment, making counterfeiting far more difficult.

Each stamp is now uniquely linked to individual immigration officers and specific ports of entry, allowing authorities to trace their usage back to the source. Any traveller found with an unauthorised or outdated stamp risks arrest and deportation, as does any official caught facilitating illegal entries.

“Officers who abuse their stamps face disciplinary processes and dismissal. Already, nine officials have been fired between April and June, and more corruption cases are under investigation,” Mogotsi confirmed.

–ChannelAfrica–